Cristiano Ronaldo Defies Ancelotti’s Orders as Real Madrid Prepare for Super Cup
BBC Sport – Football
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again shown he marches to the beat of his own drum at Real Madrid, reportedly ignoring instructions from head coach Carlo Ancelotti ahead of the upcoming European Super Cup.
Ancelotti had explicitly told Ronaldo to rest and skip training on Tuesday to manage his fitness carefully during the preseason. However, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner surprised everyone by turning up at the Valdebebas training ground regardless — a move that caught the coaching staff off guard.
Ronaldo was not alone in this act of defiance; James Rodríguez also appeared at training without any directive from the coach. The pair were later joined by teammates Raphaël Varane and Karim Benzema, adding to the unexpected gathering.
The Portuguese forward’s motives are clear: with Real Madrid scheduled to face Sevilla in the European Super Cup final on August 12th in Cardiff, Ronaldo is determined to be fully fit and ready to lead his team. So far, he has featured for just 20 minutes in preseason friendlies, including a brief cameo against Manchester United.
By showing up to train against the coach’s wishes, Ronaldo is sending a message that he is eager and motivated to start the season strongly. However, this approach comes with risks — potentially frustrating the coaching staff and exposing himself to injury before the competitive season begins.
Ronaldo’s confidence and determination underline his status as a team leader and one of the world’s best players. Yet, managing his workload remains a delicate balancing act for Ancelotti, who must ensure his star striker is both fit and available for Real Madrid’s major challenges ahead.
As Madrid build toward the new campaign, all eyes will be on how the club manages Ronaldo’s extraordinary ambition alongside the team’s collective needs.
