Madrid boss criticizes Ronaldo, Mourinho in leaked audios
MADRID (AP) ā A new round of leaked audio recordings published by Spanish media on Wednesday revealed Real Madrid's president privately criticizing Cristiano Ronaldo and JoseĢ Mourinho.
The newspaper El Confidencial released audios in which Florentino PeĢrez reportedly called former player Ronaldo an āimbecileā and āsick.ā He reportedly said Ronaldo and former coach Mourinho āwere not normal.ā He also called Mourinho an āimbecile.ā
PeĢrez also reportedly criticized former Madrid and Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, saying he was ānot a coach" and āone of the greatest liesā he had seen in his life.
Audios released by the newspaper on Tuesday had exposed PeĢrez criticizing former Madrid stars Iker Casillas and RauĢl GonzaĢlez. He reportedly said Casillas wasnāt good enough for Madrid and GonzaĢlez thought he owned the club. PeĢrez reportedly called them the two āgreat fraudsā of Madrid.
El Confidencial said the comments about Ronaldo and Mourinho were made in 2012, during PeĢrez's second stint in charge of the club. The comments on Casillas and GonzaĢlez were reportedly made in 2006.
PeĢrez released a statement on Tuesday saying the comments were āisolated quotes that were part of conversations and have been taken out of the wider context in which they were made.ā
He said they were likely being published now because of his "involvement as one of the driving forces behind the Super League,ā which folded days after being launched following widespread criticism against the competition.
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