Player of Week 4: Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid have made an inconsistent start to the season, not helped by reports that Cristiano Ronaldo is unhappy at Santiago Bernabeu. Frustrated or not, the Portuguese talisman brushed aside his woes with a hat-trick as Los Blancos demolished Deportivo La Coruna 8-2 at Riazor on Saturday to follow up their 5-1 Champions League thrashing of Basel.

Ronaldo opened the scoring for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, heading Alvaro Arbeloa’s cross into the far corner with his first-ever goal at Riazor. He grabbed the third when he prodded a loose ball into an empty net from outside the area after Karim Benzema had been floored by Depor goalkeeper German Lux and completed his treble with Madrid’s sixth after good work by James Rodriguez. The performance took the forward to an impressive 70 Eurofantasyleague.com points for the match.

It was the first time Real Madrid had scored eight away from home in La Liga and was the perfect response to an indifferent beginning to the Primera campaign that has seen them crash 4-2 at Real Sociedad before being vanquished 2-1 by neighbours Atletico Madrid in the city derby last weekend. Gareth Bale and Manchester United loanee Javier Hernandez scored two apiece and James opened his account in La Liga with a stunning strike.

Madrid’s 13 goals in two matches have detracted somewhat from their defensive frailty, but there is no doubting the value of an on-form Ronaldo in attack. Holder of the Ballon d’Or and winner of the Pichichi after scoring 31 goals in La Liga last season, he has notched eight goals in seven games in all competitions so far in the current campaign, with five in three League appearances. His hat-trick against Depor was his 20th in the League in Real Madrid colours.

Saturday’s performance temporarily diverted attention from less positive noises coming from the Portugal captain, who is said to be unhappy with the club’s decision to sell Angel Di Maria and Xabi Alonso to Manchester United and Bayern Munich respectively. Two defeats in Madrid’s first three League games may have crystallised Ronaldo’s frustration, causing him to vent his anger on club President Florentino Perez.

Ronaldo has been reported as having questioned Los Blancos’ sale of key players such as Arjen Robben, Gonzalo Higuain and Mesut Ozil in the past, while periodic reports have also tended to link the 29-year-old with a return to Old Trafford. United boss Louis van Gaal has said he would be interested in signing the Portuguese, but does not believe Real Madrid would be prepared to sell him.

One explanation for Ronaldo’s angst is that the likes of Di Maria have been able to significantly up their income with a move away from the Bernabeu, while the Portuguese sees himself slipping slowly down the ranks of the world’s highest-paid players. Old Trafford trio Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Wayne Rooney are all said to be earning more than Ronaldo.

This is not the first time the forward has aired his petulant unhappiness. He did it before when Jose Mourinho was in charge and was rewarded with an improved contract. Time will tell if a similar resolution is to be reached this time.  

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