Vinicius Junior has become a target for opposing players in La Liga in recent years, and this has led to some very unpleasant moments.
The Real Madrid superstar is often criticised in Spain for his attitude during matches, but for one FC Barcelona star who knows him very well, this is not the real Vinicius. Raphinha is a good friend of the 23-year-old, with whom he has played for the national team in recent years. Speaking to RAC1, he spoke of the “real” Vinicius, the one that few people get to see.
“The Vinicius of the matches is completely different from the Vinicius in person. When you meet him outside of football, you realise that they are completely different people. I have already seen many players who are one way off the pitch and another on the pitch. It is normal in football, there are many players like that.
“I try to explain to everyone that Vinicius is not a bad person – he is a spectacular person, a very good person. He is younger than me, but when I arrived at the national team he was already there and he helped me a lot. We get along very well and I also talk to him often and I tell him that it is not necessary to do the things he does on the pitch, but I understand him. Every person is different, he is like that and I think it gives him confidence on the pitch to do that.
A loving person…
“For example, Gavi on the pitch, in my opinion, is crazy, he is very annoying… I have already told you this many times. But off the pitch, he is an incredible person, loving, caring… Vinicius is the same. However, it is difficult to convince people that he is like that when they see him in a certain way on the pitch. Only if you live moments with him will you see that I am right… he is affectionate… He is a person who is always joking, who is always smiling. It is difficult to see Vinicius serious, he is always joking…”
Vinicius is an exceptional footballer, and while his antics on the pitch are not exemplary, it is clear from Raphinha's comments that this is a tactic used to get into the heads of La Liga players. It cannot be said that it does not work, given the success he has had with Real Madrid in recent seasons.
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