📣 Pep Guardiola on Rodri's Ballon d'Or win and Real Madrid snub | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has congratulated Rodri after he was named as the world’s best footballer on Monday evening.

Rodri was named the surprise winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or yesterday, beating Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jnr and Jude Bellingham.

And speaking publicly for the first time since the announcement, Guardiola admitted he was ‘proud’ of the Spain international.

“What can I say? Congratulations to him and all his family and friends,” Pep told a press conference.

“It’s incredible news. We’re so proud of him. We could never have imagined years ago that [our] player would receive this prestigious award.

“We are so delighted to be a part of this award and to share it with him.”

Guardiola was also asked about Real Madrid’s decision to boycott the awards following Vinicius’s snub.

“Nothing to say. They want to go, it’s fine, they don’t, it’s fine. They want to congratulate, it’s fine, they don’t, it’s fine.

“Absolutely, we are not here to judge what other clubs decide what they have to do…”

Guardiola was speaking ahead of City’s EFL Cup clash with Tottenham on Wednesday.