Cristiano Ronaldo has come under criticism over the past week for refusing to swap shirts with a Girona player following the Spanish minnows’ shock 2-1 victory over Real Madrid.

Today, one of the men at the centre of the controversy, Girona midfielder Alex Granell, has revealed why the Portuguese superstar snubbed his request to swap shirts at the end of the contest.

According to the 29-year-old, Ronaldo was incensed with the La Liga first-timers’ stalling tactics to close out the game. Speaking on Spanish radio, Granell said: “He [Ronaldo] said to me that he didn’t want to because he hadn’t like how we had managed the final minutes of the game. He told me I seemed like a good player, but that he wouldn’t change shirts with me.”

Cristiano was left visibly frustrated after coming under heavy attention from the resolute Girona defence throughout the contest, although he was instrumental in the game’s opening goal after his effort was parried out to Isco, who slotted home. However, a second-half double through Stuani and Portu secured the famous win for the home side.

The humbling loss left Los Blancos third in the La Liga table behind Barcelona and Valencia, and Zinedine Zidane will be keen for his charges to get back to winning ways against Tottenham in the Champions League this evening.