The Director of Institutional Relations of Real Madrid, Emilio Butrageño, starred in an image, a priori, uncomfortable at the Ballon d’Or gala: the organization sat him in the second row of the audience, behind Kylian Mbappé and right next to Leonardo, PSG sports director, next to whom was also Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, president of PSG.
It is not a minor issue, as Real Madrid has been the target of criticism and attacks by PSG in recent months. And the French club has used Leonardo as a battering ram to deliver these blows to Madrid. “They do not respect us, they have been talking about Kylian in public for two years, it is not normal to say that sooner or later he would end up in the club and we also communicate it to them. Things like that should be punished. He is not a normal player, he is one of the best in the world, and his coach, his president, his board, his players talk about him … It is part of his plan, and it is disrespectful, “he said last October 9, in which was the last in a series of attacks that began at the end of August, with the first offer from Real Madrid for Mbappé.
Butragueño was one of the first guests to arrive at the Châtelet Theater to witness live the Ballon d’Or ceremony that crowned Leo Messi as the only player to have won seven awards. Benzema, who was among the favorites to win the trophy, has not finally come after traveling to France as well, but to Lyon.
At the end of the gala, The cameras captured Butragueño and Leonardo giving each other a hug and the Director of Institutional Relations of Real Madrid shaking hands with Al-Khelaïfi. A gesture that seals peace between the entities, waiting for what may happen with Mbappé. The idea of Madrid has not changed: he wants Mbappé to sign a contract with the whites from January, when he will be six months away from ending his contract and will have FIFA permission to do so.