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There are sore losers, and then there are Real Madrid legends.
Speaking to Spanish TV program El Chiringuito (of the infamous “Tic Tac” fame), Gutí claimed that Harry Kane winning the Ballon d’Or was orchestrated by France Football as a snub to Kylian Mbappé.
“It just so happens that, for the 70th anniversary, they move the ceremony to London and someone from London wins it,” he told El Chiringuito (via @iMiaSanMia). “It’s an incredible coincidence that they move it to London and someone from London wins it, isn’t it? I mean, it’s as if everything is…”
“Orchestrated,” said the interviewer.
“Completely. Absolutely. That’s what I think, and it’s what I’ve thought about this award for a long time. I’m telling you, when I saw the look on his face when they announced Harry Kane, he never in his life thought he was going to win it. Never. I think he expected both Lamine Yamal and Mbappé to finish ahead of him. You only have to look at his face,” Gutí said.
Now, to most sane football fans, this seems unhinged—especially because it’s obvious that nobody knew who won ahead of time. When Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé watched Harry Kane stand up and collect his Ballon d’Or, their reactions were genuine, and they both seemed to think they were going to win it (until they didn’t).
The fact is, Real Madrid are so used to getting their way that when they get treated fairly, they act like an injustice has been done to them. It was the same with Eduardo Camavinga’s red card in the Champions League semifinal last season. Harry Kane deserved his Ballon d’Or; there is no conspiracy about it. The fact that they can’t accept it is simply pathetic and petulant.