- Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister slammed Virgil van Dijk on Instagram on Monday
- She was left furious after the Liverpool defender made a joke about her brother
- Katia Aveiro questioned Van Dijk’s trophy haul in the Premier League and Europe
- Piers Morgan of GMB ripped into Liverpool Defender on Social Media
- Van Dijk later clarified it to be a joke.
Virgil van Dijk replies back to the criticism made by Piers Morgan and Ronaldo’s sister on social media, saying it was all joke and he has great respect for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Dutch defender finished runner-up to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi at the Ballon d’Or ceremony last night.
The Question on Red Carpet
After he was voted ahead of Juventus forward Ronaldo, the 28-year-old could not resist a cheeky dig at the no-show Portuguese legend.
A reporter initially said asked Van Dijk: “Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be here tonight, so that’s already one less rival to care about.”
And he responded tongue-in-cheek with: “Was Cristiano Ronaldo really a rival?”
- Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus, named best player in Serie A
- What happened to the club jersey No. 7, which Ronaldo left
- Van Dijk says it’s joke, after outburst of Ronaldo sister and Piers Morgan
- Giorgio Chiellini says, ‘Ronaldo was robbed of Ballon d’Or’
Reaction of Ronaldo’s Sister
This did not go down well with Ronaldo fans as well as Ronaldo’s sister Katia, who slammed the Liverpool defender in a lengthy rant on Instagram.
Alongside a picture of Ronaldo scoring his stunning overhead kick against Juventus in the Champions League, she wrote: “I think there are people living completely frustrated !!! And unrealistic… such humility!
“It is well known that Ronaldo will not win tonight’s prize. Although I have won important collective titles … but this is another conversation and that up ahead we will see where the truth about football will come!!!
“Now, dear Virgil, where you are going, Cristiano Ronaldo has gone and has come a thousand times.
“You see, my dear Virgil, that Cristiano Ronaldo was a tri-champion in the country where you have been playing for years and you still haven’t got your hand in the can.
“Cristiano Ronaldo was even the best player and best scorer in the country where you play Virgil. By the way, I was even younger than you.
“Then, dear Virgil, Cristiano Ronaldo went to other places and became the greatest player in the history of a clubezito. Real Madrid, tell you something Virgil? Maybe so, because this club, with this Cristiano guy, even beat you in the Champions League final.
“Of these [awards], Ronaldo already has five, Virgil. And that fellow Ronaldo and team-mates, with the corners on his chest, crushed your “orange” in a final. Was it hard, Virgil? We have pity. And, dear Virgil, In one of the least successful times of his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has won even more titles than you.
“Awesome, isn’t it? Now Virgil will win titles from those who really count and then we’ll talk. When you have a handful of them, the really important ones, you might be able to sit at the table with Cristiano. Or as they say in our land, it grows and appears! It’s for me Cristiano you are and you will always be the best player in the world !!!
“And who does not like to put it on the wheel of the plate !!! (as they say in our land, small for many) but where came the best ever.”
Reaction from Piers Morgan
Like many Ronaldo fans, one not to take the comment/question very lightly was Good Morning Britain host and Arsenal fan Piers Morgan, who wrote on Twitter alongside Van Dijk’s quote: “No.. @Cristiano is a far greater player, you’re not in his league.
Reply from Van Dijk
The tweet prompted a response from Van Dijk, with the Dutchman clarified saying, he meant no disrespect towards Ronaldo and urging people to listen to the whole interview.
He wrote: “Hi Piers, If you don’t jump on the social media bandwagon and would listen to the whole interview, then you would know I made a joke, and only got respect for those 2.”
