Vinicius Junior Slammed By Ex-Valencia Boss, Real Madrid Blasted As 'Immigrant' Club
- Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior were on the receiving end of a scathing attack by a former Valencia president
- The erstwhile boss of the La Liga club did not mince words about his feelings towards the Brazilian winger
- He even went a notch higher to include Vinicius's club, Real Madrid, during a vehement interview recently
A former manager of a Spanish football club has targeted Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid in a scathing interview.
Ex-Valencia president Paco Roig criticised the Brazilian as a person and also his team for being 'an immigrant club.'
Roig's frank comments are said to have stemmed from the sordid history between Vinicius and Valencia supporters.
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Vinicius' history with Valencia
While Roig acknowledged Vinicius' talent and status as one of football’s top stars, he made it clear that the player's attitude detracted from his skills on the field.
The tension between Valencia fans and the Brazilian dates back to a notorious incident during a La Liga clash at Mestalla in 2023, which devolved into chaos.
During a highly-charged league game, home fans allegedly hurled racist insults at Vinicius, who they claimed had shown disrespect to them at their own stadium.
The fallout from that match was severe - in June, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for racially abusing Vinicius, plus an additional two-year ban from attending football matches, per Al Jazeera.
Since that troubling episode, Vinicius has become a global advocate for fighting racism, backed strongly by Real Madrid in his efforts to combat discrimination in football.
However, despite his anti-racism stance, the 24-year-old attacker has continued to attract criticism from some corners, including Roig, who recently aired his grievances.
Former Valencia boss' scathing attack on Vinicius
Per Forbes, the former Valencia president made his disdain for the club and the player known in a scathing interview with Relevo.
"I call Madrid the 'Real Immigrant'. If Madrid has eight black [players], two foreign white [players] and a Spaniard, [Dani] Carvajal, and Vinicius comes out here..."
After criticising the team's makeup during his rant, Roig then took aim at Vinicius: “He may be a great player, and I believe he is, but he’s [expletive] as a person."
While Vini's skill is undeniable, his behaviour, particularly in hostile environments, can elicit mixed reactions.
However, Roig's criticism of the Brazilian has elicited mostly negative reactions from fans on social media.
Explicit language warning:
Vinicius backed strongly to win Ballon d'Or
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Neymar Junior reaffirmed his support for Vinicius to claim the Ballon d'Or.
The former Barcelona star backed the Brazilian to edge out Jude Bellingham and Rodri for the top prize.
Reports also suggested that Vinicius 'already knows' he's won, with Nike preparing a special tribute to him.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
