Spain defender Aymeric Laporte has responded online to an incident involving Vinicius Junior after a clash with the Real Madrid star during a 3-3 draw with Brazil.
During Tuesday’s intense international friendly between Spain and Brazil, Vinicius Junior was observed walking over to Laporte and pushing him in the back.
This incident occurred after the Real Madrid player had tearfully addressed reporters in a press conference, discussing the racial abuse he has faced. “I just want to play football,” Vinicius expressed as he prepared for the match at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Vinicius Junior (Via RealMadrid/Twitter)
Following the game, comments mocking Vinicius surfaced online. One post shared a video of the incident along with the message: “I just want to play football,” accompanied by emojis. Surprisingly, Spain defender Laporte responded with the comment: “Maybe he wanted to dance.”
The match against Spain was significant for Vinicius, who captained Brazil in response to the racism he has encountered this season.
Prior to kickoff, the Brazil players wore tops bearing the slogan “One skin, one identity.”
Vinicius Junior (Via RealMadrid/Twitter)
The game ended in a draw, with Lucas Paqueta securing a 97th-minute equalizer. Vinicius received a standing ovation from the crowd when he left the pitch in the 70th minute.
Despite the challenges he has faced, Vinicius remains determined to persevere. He has openly acknowledged feeling “less and less like playing” due to the racism he has endured but remains committed to his career.
As Real Madrid returns to action leading La Liga by eight points and prepares for the Champions League quarter-finals against Manchester City, Vinicius aims to contribute to his team’s pursuit of silverware.
