Vinícius usually makes the news for his sporting performance and on other occasions for non-sporting aspects, as occurred in his appearance before the media prior to the friendly duel between his Brazil and Spain this Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabéu. The Real Madrid player broke down, unable to continue speaking, when he had to explain his particular fight against racism in football.
“We hope that in the near future there will be fewer cases of racism and that black people will have a normal life like the others. I want to continue just for that reason. Because if it were just me, I would have given up by now. I play with my head focused on football, but sometimes it’s not possible. I have to concentrate a lot every day,” explained the Brazilian before having to stop his speech due to emotion, covering his eyes to try to contain his tears.
“Excuse me. I just want to play football and do the best for my club and my family,” he continued seconds later with a broken voice. After his response, Vinícius received applause from some of the journalists present in the Valdebebas press room.
Vinícius has been the object of insults from rival fans in many football fields in Spain, in some cases derived from his attitude during matches, at times provocative towards the opposing fans. “Of course I have many things to improve, I’m still 23 years old, and it’s a natural progression. I leave Brazil very young without having learned many things,” added the forward, disenchanted with football: “I feel more and more sad, I have less and less will to play. Nobody is supporting me.”
Vinícius assures that what “frustrates” him the most is “the lack of punishment.” “In Barcelona a case was filed and I would like it not to happen so that people stop saying what they say,” recalled the white player. Last season alone LaLiga filed up to ten complaints for racist chants towards Vinícius, of which two ended in conviction.
“Every complaint of mine makes me very sad. It not only happens in Spain, but also in the world. It also happened to my father, they chose a white man over a black man. It is something that I notice, and I fight because they have chosen me “I fight so that in the near future it doesn’t happen to anyone again,” Vinícius concluded on the matter.
On the other hand, he described it as a “dream come true” to play at the Santiago Bernabéu, his “home”, with Brazil. “They are two of the best teams in the world and they haven’t faced each other in a while. We are prepared, I am going to face teammates, and I hope to beat Spain,” he concluded.
