Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata has said ex-team mates Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas or Sergio Ramos deserve to win the Ballon d’Or trophy.
The striker, now at Juventus, told Onda Cero that all of them should have been shortlisted for the award for the contribution they have made to Real’s success in recent years. Despite a tough 18 months being in and out of the team, club captain Casillas played a key role in helping the team to success in the Champions League and Copa del Rey last season.
Ramos wrote himself into club folklore with his double in the semi-final against Bayern Munich and his last-minute equaliser in the final against Atletico de Madrid. Ronaldo, meanwhile, has continued to set the world alight with his goalscoring feats. The 29-year-old is on the shortlist for the award in January, alongside Leo Messi and Manuel Neuer.
But Morata said the three-man shortlist should be made up of Real Madrid players.
“Casillas and Sergio Ramos deserve the Ballon d’Or,” he told the radio station. “But Cristiano in recent years has been above the rest and is a fair winner.”
The forward also went on to say he’s looking forward to facing Atletico with his new club when the come together in the Champions League.
“The important thing is to be in the next round. It motivates me to play against all teams, but it is special because Atleti are Spanish and a team that have been at the highest level in recent years. Who wouldn’t be motivated to play against Atletico?”
