Vinicius’ Confession to Mbappé After Atlético Victory: ‘I Was Going to Be on Every Newspaper…’
Real Madrid secured a dramatic victory over Atlético Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16, winning on penalties (1-0; 2-4). The celebrations continued in the dressing room, where Vinicius Jr., who had missed a penalty, confided in Kylian Mbappé. “You guys saved me. Tomorrow, I was going to be on every newspaper, criticized for missing the penalty…” the Brazilian told his teammate.
Vinicius had taken the penalty, which was earned by Mbappé, with 20 minutes left in regulation. As Carlo Ancelotti later confirmed in a press conference, Vinicius was the designated taker. “It was decided that Vini would take it, and unfortunately, he missed,” the Italian coach explained.
Ancelotti also addressed why Vinicius did not finish the match. The number 7 was substituted four minutes before the end of extra time. “He wasn’t going to take a penalty in the shootout and asked for a substitution because he was exhausted,” Ancelotti revealed.
Vinicius’ Reaction on Social Media
Despite his exhaustion, Vinicius made sure to congratulate his teammates for their efforts. Besides his chat with Mbappé, he also spoke with other players, expressing his disappointment over his missed penalty.
After the match, Vinicius was very active on social media, celebrating Real Madrid’s qualification for the quarterfinals. He also reacted to a post from a Madrid-based fan account (@MadridXtra) mocking an Atlético banner that had confidently predicted their Champions League triumph. The banner read, “This year, yes,” to which Vinicius bluntly responded: “This year, no.” A simple yet undeniable statement.
Silence on Racial Abuse
However, Vinicius remained silent on the racist attacks he endured before, during, and after the match. Unfortunately, the Brazilian has been repeatedly targeted with insults and death threats, an unacceptable situation that has long been evident.
No Response from Atlético
Despite being known for issuing official statements on various matters, Atlético Madrid has yet to condemn the appalling abuse Vinicius suffered. Hundreds of Atlético supporters organized a coordinated attack on the Madrid winger, yet there has been no response from the club.
While playful sporting banter is part of football, the continuous wave of racist insults Vinicius faces is an issue that should no longer be tolerated. These actions must be met with appropriate consequences to prevent a return to the dark past of discrimination in football.
