Jose Mourinho knows how to grab the headlines; simply make an accusation that a player from each of the ‘Big Four’ teams knows how to pull off a dive, knowing that your Inter team are likely to face at least one of them at a later stage in the Champions League. However, one of the accused has an unlikely ally in this former Gunners star.
When Robert Pires isn’t busy bigging up the Arsenal, he’s sticking up for Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming that the Portugeezer doesn’t dive and is a pretty honest player. The Frenchman was known to take a few tumbles during his time in the Premier League, there was one particularly incident where he didn’t just dive, he actually stuck out his own leg to make sure of winning a penalty! Setanta report that the Villarreal winger knows the difference between diving and being a victim!
“I do not think he is a diver and likes to ridicule his marker, he is just a spectacular player that provokes his opponent a lot, and when I say provokes I mean it in a positive way,” Pires told setantasports.com.
“Besides the defenders themselves do not offer him any gifts; they go very strong on him, so I admire him for what he manages to achieve under pressure.
“He was amazing last season, no-one matched his level and for that reason he should be voted Ballon d’Or, indeed.
“He is an amazing individual talent, but not a selfish one, as what he does is massive for his team.”
Anyway, let’s focus on the positive aspect of this story, that of Cristiano Ronaldo being proclaimed the World Footballer of the Year. He was absolutely magnificent for Manchester United last season, and a central reason as to why they scooped the Premier League and Champions League last term. Do you agree with the former Arsenal man that he should be a shoo-in for the award?
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