It is a common maxim that money cannot buy you happiness and Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the world's best paid players, appears to have become the latest to acknowledge this after saying he was "sad" at Real Madrid.
The Portugal forward, who cost Real a record 94 million euros ($118.49 million) in 2009 and who earns around 11 million euros a year, refused to elaborate after Sunday's La Liga win but added that it was for professional not personal reasons. "The people who work here know why," he said after their routine 3-0 home win over Granada in which he scored a brace, and his comments dominated the sports headlines in Spain on Monday.
"Enough in enough" ran the front page of sports daily Marca over a photo of a serious looking Ronaldo. "CR7 unsettles Madrid and activates the alarm bells after failing to celebrate his goals against Granada."
An El Mundo comment piece was headlined "Rich, good-looking and sad."
Radio station Cadena Ser and other media reported that Ronaldo had held a meeting with Real president Florentino Perez on Saturday where he said he did not feel he had the support of the dressing room, he was unhappy and wanted to leave. Ronaldo himself dismissed the idea that his feelings had anything to do with losing out to Andres Iniesta for the Best Player in Europe award on Thursday.
There was speculation in some media that he was unhappy that he had not been offered an improved contract after his goal-scoring feats over the last three seasons.
Meanwhile, the win at Getafe left Real five points adrift of arch-rivals Barcelona, who won 1-0 at home to Valencia thanks to a screamer from full-back Adriano.
Ronaldo scored the opening goal in the 26th minute with a deflected left-foot strike. Ronaldo added the second nine minutes into the second half and he tapped the rebound into an empty net. Substitute Gonzalo Higuain added a third for Real 14 minutes from time.
