Ronaldo's arrogance in China

GUANGZHOU, China — Angry Chinese journalists and football fans lambasted an "arrogant" Cristiano Ronaldo after the Real Madrid superstar's surly performance at a pre-match press conference.

The Spanish club are on a tour to China designed to promote the Real brand in the world's second biggest economy and tap into the burgeoning wealth of its 1.3 billion population, where football and European clubs are hugely popular.

But some observers said Ronaldo's behaviour at the press conference on Tuesday in the major southern city of Guangzhou -- where he gave often mumbled one-sentence answers -- could have the very opposite effect.

"He always seems selfish and arrogant," said Yan Qiang, vice-president of Titan Media, one of China's leading sports publishers, noting the flying winger is one of the most popular players in China, along with Kaka and Lionel Messi.

"His behaviour won't help his cause in China," Yan told AFP, suggesting that the negative reaction to his appearance on the eve of a friendly with Guangzhou Evergrande might also hurt the prospects in China of his backers Nike.

Asked at the press briefing about the condition of his injury-prone teammate Kaka, Ronaldo, who became the world's most expensive player when he left Manchester United for Real in 2009 for £80 million, answered: "Perfecto."

In an attempt to lift the mood, another Chinese journalist asked Ronaldo, who last year became a father, whether he changed his son's nappy.

"Of course, as a father it is normal to change the baby's nappies," an unamused Ronaldo replied in English.

And asked by AFP if he might ever return to United or English football, he said: "Maybe, why not? You never know."

He was also quizzed about his interest in table tennis and whether he knew any of the Chinese players. Asked later about his impressions of Guangzhou, he said that it was very hot.

"The questions he was asked didn't have much to do with football. Chinese fans are different from European fans. Chinese are more into the personal lives of their icons," Yan said.

China's massive Internet population -- the world's largest at 485 million -- also got stuck into the 26-year-old Portuguese.

"I don't know whether Ronaldo can be the World Footballer of the Year, but I am just sure he will be condemned for what he did at the news conference," web user "wangjihe" wrote on the sports channel of popular web portal Netease.

"Ronaldo is really good at football, and good-looking, but he is really not that modest," wrote another fan on the website, using the number 7726693116 as a web handle.

"He should hire a public relations company to teach him how to cope with the media."

A third observer, named 9513638962, was more blunt, writing simply: "Look at you! C. Ronaldo, just go home!"

Real's promotional tour in China next moves to the city of Tianjin, close to Beijing.
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All over the internet.

Sad display from a supposed superstar. Probably weren't enough WAGs out there to interest him.

Lmfao, where are the people that said the arrogance and the douchebaggery was fabricated by the media?

Never really heard him give long detailed answers before, so I didn't expect any different really.

I seriously don't get the arrogance part, i never saw it?

Don't comment unless you watched the interview

The media were utterly stupid, asking the worst and most inappropriate questions.

It was like a bunch of primary school children asking questions. No wonder he wasn't interested in answering them. The whole time the only football question they asked pertaining to him at all was whether he would return to the EPL.

Just utterly stupid.

I hate cr94 but tbf the question they asked didn't need a long answer, or atleast those in the article..

Crimson wrote:Don't comment unless you watched the interview

The media were utterly stupid, asking the worst and most inappropriate questions.

It was like a bunch of primary school children asking questions. No wonder he wasn't interested in answering them. The whole time the only football question they asked pertaining to him at all was whether he would return to the EPL.

Just utterly stupid.

this, frankly for an european player in a press conference, those questions seemed retarded.

we brought kaka along to amuse them anyway lol

Lionel Messi wrote:Lmfao, where are the people that said the arrogance and the douchebaggery was fabricated by the media?

what does the way a player acts outside of field matter they pay him to play football
not to be "modest"

Ronaldo Ronaldo How much Gel did u put in your hair today?

I agree, Ronaldo was right in giving one-liners to THOSE questions.

Anyway, press conferences are chore. He could have said that the fans were fantastic, but as long as he entertains on the pitch, it should not matter that much!

Good old CR7 ;D
But the interviewers are the ones to blaim really.

cronaldo is humble & respectful

It is a cultural difference issue.

What the hell do we want to know anything about C. Ronaldo's private life, he could be banging walls for all I care, as long as he does it in the privacy of his own home.

We have no business prying on the privacy of the players, and there is no reason players should be interviewed at any time except after the game. And only on the subject of the game.

english_jewel wrote:
China's massive Internet population -- the world's largest at 485 million -- also got stuck into the 26-year-old Portuguese.

"I don't know whether Ronaldo can be the World Footballer of the Year, but I am just sure he will be condemned for what he did at the news conference," web user "wangjihe" wrote on the sports channel of popular web portal Netease.

"Ronaldo is really good at football, and good-looking, but he is really not that modest," wrote another fan on the website, using the number 7726693116 as a web handle.

"He should hire a public relations company to teach him how to cope with the media."

A third observer, named 9513638962, was more blunt, writing simply: "Look at you! C. Ronaldo, just go home!"

Real's promotional tour in China next moves to the city of Tianjin, close to Beijing.

LMAO.Seriously what the hell is this?

on a related topic, chinese food is over rated

news just want to get attention......

The media just loves to hate on Ronaldo.
I don't think Ronaldo cares. He tends to response pretty well against criticism on the pitch.

zizzle wrote:on a related topic, chinese food is over rated

FUU
i find chinese food the best.. might just be me

I dont like the guy, nor do I like madrid, but seriously, hes in china to play a game, not answer stupid questions.

23arshavin23 wrote:I dont like the guy, nor do I like madrid, but seriously, hes in china to play a game, not answer stupid questions.

Haters gonna ha....wait, what?

Lionel Messi wrote:Lmfao, where are the people that said the arrogance and the douchebaggery was fabricated by the media?

The article OP posted shows that the so-called douchebaggery is indeed fabricated. Where was the arrogance?

I hate Crissy Ron, but I don't see anything bad in his answers. Probably he was a bit uninterested, normal though.

I've noticed the Chinese press in general have been sensitive like girls every time they interview a big player.

Its almost if they expect all their lame and perverse questions answered with a large toothy smile.

Idiots.

Sorry, but if you're going to ask stupid questions like "Do you change your son's nappy?", you deserve a dull, uninteresting response. It was the right thing to do, hardly any arrogance at all.