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LaLiga: Neymar and Cristiano prove once again that fans are not their main priority

Picture the scene: You’re in a loving relationship. The initial period is the best because you want to spend every second with that person. Nothing is annoying, everything is cute or funny. When you are apart the average response time for a text message is 0.2 seconds. Your friends become increasingly marginalised as this person ‘could be the one’. It’s magical. Yet when that initial period wears off you begin to see the imperfections, you feel crowded and need a bit of space. Suddenly it’s changed and you don’t know why.

Maybe it’s the same for footballers and their teams.

Loyalty no longer exists for players, only fans

Now there’s nothing new in stating that players don’t feel the same way fans do about a team. In rare instances you may get a youngster coming through the academy who is a lifelong fan of the same team. There are photos of him or her wearing an old replica shirt or posing alongside a former player. We connect with them because they are essentially living our dream. This person isn’t like the rest. No, they’re different. But, ultimately, they aren’t.

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We are only a month into the transfer window and already we’ve seen two of the best three players in the world purposely use the media for their own gain. They gesture for the fans to back them, repeatedly state how important their support is and how grateful they are to wear your team’s shirt. We’re in this together. This is our journey. That isn’t true though, is it?

Fans can’t up sticks and go somewhere else because of a bad season or because they had an argument with someone at the club. When things aren’t quite going to plan there’s no buyout clause for those in the stands. Even when it’s bad, even when they can’t afford it, they stand there as if it’s an obligation. “If you can’t take me at my worst you don’t deserve me at my best.” We’re gluttons for punishment, we love to moan but we don’t kiss the badge then kiss another the next season. We’re loyal, almost to the point of stupidity, but our support is unwavering.

I want to leave, I want to stay

Cristiano Ronaldo opened up the summer with the “irreversible” decision to walk away from Real Madrid and Spain. He was fed up of what he claimed was a lack of support, his mind was already made up. The Portuguese press published the story and it promptly spread like wildfire. Sources in Spain and England were told the same. This wasn’t a posturing exercise but a public ‘come and get me plea’ to Manchester United. Rescue poor Cristiano from his personal hell, please.

Now the one responsible for releasing that story to the press might remain a mystery but let’s not pretend Cristiano didn’t know about it from the start. We’re programmed to believe that he’s a bit of an idiot because he posts photos of himself in boxer shorts. More money than sense, eh? But the reality is Cristiano, tax issues aside, is very smartly advised and he doesn’t do anything without a reason behind it. There’s no ‘breaking kayfabe’ with the Portuguese superstar. Everything is carefully planned before being put into action. But why put the fans through the mill?

Fans are demanding, sometimes unrealistic in their ambitions, but seem to be last on everyone else’s list of priorities. Ticket prices continue to rise, preseason friendlies take place on the other side of the world and up to four replica kits come out each season – and never get any cheaper! That loyalty, which makes us unique, means we’re prone to being walked over time and time again.

Silence only hurts the supporters more

I’m not saying that in this case Real Madrid fans would’ve been happy if Cristiano said he wanted to leave. You can’t please everyone after all. However the vast majority could’ve respected his decision if it was done in a respectful manner. Imagine Cristiano released a statement saying he had achieved everything and more at the club but wanted to leave on a high. Maybe even a tip of the cap to the young core at Real Madrid by saying the club was in safe hands for the foreseeable future.

The same is happening with Neymar at Barcelona right now. The Catalan club literally bent every rule possible – even broke a couple – to bring the flamboyant Brazilian to the Camp Nou four years ago. Where is the respect from Neymar to the fans with his silence surrounding the Paris Saint Germain bid? Why toy with the emotions of those who admire, respect and love what he does?

No one is asking players or clubs to speak out on every rumour which does the rounds. We’ve all clicked on articles or read a story in a newspaper where you felt duped. The clickbait era is upon us and shifting through the rubbish becomes an almost eternal task. However when a story creates huge traction, to the point the entire world is talking about it, surely you make your stance known? Honesty is the best policy, right? Not always.

“You can’t handle the truth”

This is where we, as fans, need to shoulder part of the blame too. It seems obvious that PSG are talking to Neymar’s people. Whether terms have been agreed, whether his father has given the green light to a move or if Neymar is demanding certain things remain a mystery. The interest is, however, real. But fans must accept that transparency doesn’t always bring with it what we want to hear or see.

If Neymar said there was an offer on the table from PSG and he was considering it, fans would be split. Some would call for his head and demand that he leaves immediately. “If you don’t want to wear our shirt, get out.” The other half would plead for him to stay, point to the players around him as reason enough to carry on. “You’re our future, don’t leave for more money.” If a move breaks down, would those angry ones be able to forgive him? Or would the damage already be done?

The sad part is we are blindly loyal. A player can actively push for a move but end up staying and we’ll forgive them. One or two perfect performances and we forget everything quicker than one of the Men in Black flashing his pen into our eyes. We ignore the betrayal, the lack of faith in the badge we proudly wear, for a goal or two. “Did he really want to leave though? It was just his agent looking for more money.” We smile, despite feeling hurt. We act as if everything is okay.

Act like a doormat and you’ll be treated like one

And we go full circle and back to that relationship scenario. We’re good, kind people who do everything the model partner is supposed to in a relationship. The responsibilities are shared, we shower our loved ones with gifts and do things they prefer in order to maintain the status quo. “I’ll do the dinner tonight, you put your feet up.” Yet this mythical ‘perfect’ partner doesn’t exist.

Getting our own way each time, becoming just another happy couple soon becomes boring. Our minds begin to search for new adventures. We look at what others have, what they do, and suddenly create the idea what they have must be better.

And just like footballers, the temptation to cheat is always there. And just like fans, we’ll forgive them for their mistakes if they come back and pretend everything is okay. It’s a corrosive relationship that neither side wants to change but will ultimately end with tears. It’s always the loyal ones who end up getting hurt while the others move onto pastures news and act as if you didn’t even exist.

You see them with their new love; club, and acting all happy. They kiss the badge and perform a few tricks for the onlooking audience. The relationship goes back to the initial cycle where everything is perfect and no one can do any wrong. But you know, when things get a little comfortable, they’ll find someone else.

Once a cheater, always a cheater.