Hoping for change: Vinicius from Real Madrid Image: Reuters
The better Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid gets, the more he becomes the target of racist attacks and violent hostility. But the Brazilian keeps holding up a mirror to the Spaniards.
On May 21st last year at 7:40 p.m. in Valencia, Vinicius’s collar burst. “He called me a monkey, he called me a monkey,” he said, repeatedly pointing to an audience member in a front row. Valencia players wanted to drag him back onto the field, where Toni Kroos was supposed to take a free kick. But Vinicius could no longer be calmed down, the game was interrupted, and stadium announcements asked spectators to refrain from making racist statements. Coach Ancelotti commented in shock: “Never in my career did it occur to me that I would have to replace someone to protect them from racist fans.”
The road for Vinicius José Paixao de Oliveira Junior to superstardom was long. He had already caused quite a stir at Flamengo before signing for Real Madrid at the age of 17. The Spaniards transferred 45 million euros for him. Expectations were high, but in his few appearances in the first team, the Brazilian seemed rushed and didn’t seem to have an eye for his teammates or the goal.
