Why Ronaldo burst into tears after controversial red card
A number of pundits have offered theories as to why Cristiano Ronaldo was so upset after receiving a bizarre straight red in the Champions League.
But according to Valencia coach Marcelino, it was as simple as the fact he didn’t think he did anything wrong.
Marcelino has revealed exactly what the Juventus star said to him as he left the field in tears.
The Valencia boss said a devastated Ronaldo insisted he did nothing wrong after the superstar was controversially sent off in Juventus’ 2-0 win on Thursday (AEST).
Ronaldo – making his Champions League debut for the Serie A holders – was inconsolable after receiving a red card in the 29th minute.
It was a forgettable bow for Ronaldo, who was shown a straight red card following an inconspicuous coming together with Valencia defender Jeison Murillo in an off-the-ball incident.
Discussing Ronaldo’s red card – which has put him in doubt for a reunion against former club Manchester United – Marcelino told reporters: “He was very upset, even crying, because he said he didn’t do anything wrong.
“I haven’t seen the play which ended up in the red card.”
However former Manchester United star Darren Fletcher reckons there’s a different reason for Ronaldo’s tears.
He told BBC Radio Five Live: “Just knowing how much Ronaldo cares, I’ve seen it in training.
“He gets so angry and so competitive. He is forgetting it’s a group game but he has been brought in to win Juventus the Champions League.
“Maybe he thinks it’s the semi-final.
“In reflection, he’ll be a little embarrassed by it but it shows you how much he cares and how intense he is.
“He wants to impress at his new club.
“I see it as he’s passionate for the game, at his age, he feels like he’s let down his team.”
Ronaldo will be suspended for Juventus’ next Champions League match against Young Boys, and he’s also at risk of missing his return to Old Trafford against Manchester United after that.
Former Red Devils teammate Rio Ferdinand put Ronaldo’s tears down to the prospect of missing the Man United clash.
“The emotion you see here after the decision is clear, it means he’ll miss Old Trafford as well,” Ferdinand said.
The 33-year-old Ronaldo joined Juventus from Real Madrid in the summer and scored his first two competitive goals for his new club in a league victory over Sassuolo last weekend.
He is the Champions League’s record scorer with 120 goals and led Madrid to the title the past three years – and four times in the past five.
Juventus won the last of their two European Cups in 1996, losing five finals since then.
with agencies
