It may be no surprise that someone associated with Barcelona would be trying to stir up rumors about Real Madrid - especially in light of this weekend's reversal of fortunes, with Barca taking a one-point lead over Madrid in the table and Messi drawing neck-and-neck with Ronaldo in goals scored this campaign (each now have 30).
Be that as it may, Barcelona's assistant director of football, Carles Rexach, has gone on record saying that Real Madrid sold Angel Di Maria last season because he was "too ugly" for the club. While, at first blush, the claim seems outrageous, Rexach goes on to explain that Madrid president Florentino Perez wants to build an international brand comprised of players admired as much for their on-the-pitch exploits as off-the-pitch image:
"Florentino Perez looks at the world market and wants a team of Galacticos for everyone to admire. Do you understand what I mean?" Rexach said.
"Ronaldo is the flagship of the club. Perez is selling an international brand. Vicente del Bosque and Di Maria are too ugly for Real Madrid. They are different from Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez."
Rexach clearly is a man unafraid to speak his mind. After all, this is the same person who said last year (in comments that surfaced earlier this month) Messi's loss of form in 2014 was because he "ate more pizzas than he should have done."
These comments come at a particularly rough time for Di Maria, whose future with Manchester United is in question. Rumors have swirled around the Argentinian international all season and have intensified in recent months. As recently as this week, reports have surfaced that Manchester United may sell Di Maria during this summer's tranfer window and use the cash to bring Gareth Bale from (who else) Real Madrid. While these reports could be the typical sensationalism that surrounds any players or teams who show the slightest discontent - for instance, Di Maria is reported to have put his $4 million Prestbury mansion on the market - it stands to reason that, in the shadow of Ronaldo, perhaps Bale too has been found lacking in the looks department.
Then again, Di Maria was just recently the victim of a home invasion in said Prestbury mansion, Bale nearly scored the goal of the century from 40-yards-out in Madrid's loss to Bilbao, and if Rexach were a sailor it's likely his loose lips would have sunk more than one ship by now. Which is to say, perhaps we shouldn't hold too much stock in any of this.
