Ronaldo is a ‘provocative’ player, says Nivaldo

Valladolid’s Brazilian defender Nivaldo Santana, who appeared to stamp on Ronaldo’s shin during a weeked Spanish league match, accused the Portuguese striker of being a ``provocative” player on Monday.

“It is a bit complicated, he (Ronaldo) is a good player but he does things that the referees let him get away with. If others did what he did for sure the referee would say something,” the 29-year-old told radio Cadena Ser.

“He is very provocative and when we try to talk to him, he talks about other things,” Nivaldo added.

Ronaldo, 25, rolled down his socks to reveal a cut left by Nivaldo’s boot during Real’s 4-1 win over Valladolid on Sunday and appealed to the referee but the Brazilian defender escaped punishment.

After the match, Real director general Jorge Valdano expressed his concern over the way the world’s most expensive footballer was being treated on the pitch.

“One needs to analyse what our rivals are doing to Cristiano,” he said. Valladolid president Carlos Suarez said Nivaldo’s rough tackle on Ronaldo was “despicable and ugly” but he said that “none of the three wounds that Cristiano showed” were caused by the Brazilian defender.

“One is below the knee, another in the middle of the shin and the last one is a little mark that maybe was caused by Nivaldo,” he told Radio Marca on Monday.

“We are being demonised and it is unfair because I did not see a violent game. It was a tough match for both sides but saw no violent entry intended to do harm. I do not think that any professional footballer sets out to injure another on purpose,” he added. MADRID, AFP