Vinícius Jr. Opens Up About His Future After MVP Performance Against Manchester City
Vinícius Jr. delivered a standout performance as Real Madrid secured a thrilling 2-3 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Named UEFA’s MVP of the match, the Brazilian forward spoke candidly in the mixed zone, reflecting on the win, his teammates, and even his future with the club.
Post-Match Reflections
“I was able to play a great game from the very first half,” Vinícius said. “It doesn’t matter who scores the goals or who wins the MVP. The most important thing is winning with this shirt and keeping Real Madrid at the top.”
He emphasized Madrid’s resilience: “The key was to win, no matter how. On the last chance, I tried to shoot, and the ball went to Jude [Bellingham]. This competition is different for us—we have to keep going.”
Facing City has become a familiar challenge for Madrid. “Every year, we come here to play. It’s a big rivalry. We’re happy because we managed to defend well, which is always tough against City. The important thing was to leave here alive.”
Looking Ahead to the Second Leg
Vinícius is already focused on the return leg at the Bernabéu: “We still have the second leg, and we need to create a great atmosphere so it’s a beautiful match, just like today. We have to defend like we did here and count on our fans.”
On the Referee’s Decisions
When asked about the refereeing, Vinícius didn’t hold back: “Sometimes it’s complicated. Referees protect the players who make fouls. Whenever I get fouled, I’m the one who gets booked. I’m not a saint, but I always try to win in any way possible.”
Chemistry with Teammates
“It’s always easy to play with the best. We have great chemistry both on and off the pitch. We’re friends, we want to make history, and we’re staying on the right path. The important matches are here, and these are the games we love.”
Despite the tough environment, he joked about Madrid’s repeated visits to Manchester: “I try not to overthink it. They know our history, they know what we can do in this competition. It’s our fifth time playing here, and it’s always freezing!”
Rumors About Saudi Arabia
When asked about potential interest from Saudi clubs, Vinícius was clear: “I don’t know anything about that. You’d have to talk to the president. I hope to stay here—this is my home, and I want to keep making history.”
Ballon d’Or Aspirations
“Yes, I saw the banner,” Vinícius smiled when asked about fans’ Ballon d’Or chants. “But whenever rival fans do things like that, it gives me more strength to play well. I had a great game today, we won, and now we need to go back to Madrid and create a beautiful atmosphere with our fans.”
He also expressed his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo: “Cristiano is my idol. I can only thank him for his kind words. I hope to follow in his footsteps with lots of goals and titles. His words make me and my family very happy—they give me peace of mind.”
As Madrid gears up for the second leg at the Bernabéu, one thing is clear: Vinícius Jr. isn’t just thinking about the next match—he’s thinking about legacy.
