Ballon d'or: Hansi Flick takes a jab at Real Madrid ahead of the ceremony

FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has taken a swipe at Real Madrid, knowing that Los Blancos will not be attending the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris.

It's official! Tomorrow, Monday, unlike Real Madrid, a delegation from FC Barcelona will be present to support winger Lamine Yamal at the Ballon d'Or ceremony. This, even though it appears that the young Spaniard will finish behind Ousmane Dembélé. Blaugrana coach Hans-Dieter Flick emphasized the importance of attending such an event.

"I don't know if we'll ever see Lamine Yamal win the Ballon d'Or, but I believe we will. Right now, we're nominated and anyone who's nominated deserves it. You have to be there and show respect to the winners—it's absolutely vital," the coach told the press. This statement is widely seen as a dig at Real Madrid, who have boycotted the Ballon d'Or since Vinicius Junior's snub last year.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.