FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he was misquoted in media reports citing him as calling Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo a “slave” in the midst of the tug-of-war for the Portuguese star between his EPL club and Real Madrid.
“I have never said that Ronaldo is a slave,” Blatter said. “What I said is slavery is with the young people — youngsters that European clubs are trying to get, 13, 14 and 15 year old young boys — and bring them to the big clubs. This is my expression, this is modern slavery.
“I have never mentioned that for Ronaldo. But the press … they have distorted it. Ronaldo is not a slave.”