On the eve of El Clasico, FC Barcelona’s star players Joao Felix and Ilkay Gundogan have expressed their support for their Real Madrid rival, Vinicius Jr.
Despite his stellar performance in the recent Champions League match, where he delivered two crucial assists and earned Man of the Match, Vinicius Jr. remains a contentious figure in ongoing debates.
The Brazilian came under attack from the deputy spokesperson for the Barcelona Board of Directors,Miquel Camps.
In a now deleted tweet camps wrote,”It’s not racism, he deserves a slap for being a clown. What do these unnecessary and meaningless bicycles represent in the center of the field?”
In an interview with ESPN, Joao Felix stood up for Vinicius, admitting his admiration for the Brazilian and describing him as a “cheerful player”
“All the things he does that people say make players irritated, I don’t agree. That’s football and football has those things. It’s not just about running, scoring goals and defending. I think there has to be a bit of joy in the game as well,” Felix said.
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“Everyone is the way they are. I’m talking about dribbling and irreverence. We always need players like that in our teams,” Felix concluded.
During an appearance on TV3 in Catalonia, former Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan, who crossed paths with Vinicius en route to winning the Champions League last season, also defended the winger’s abilities.
“Someone can interpret Vinicius’ actions as a provocation, but for me, honestly, they are not. Evidently, he already knows that if he does these things he will be whistled. But maybe he likes to be whistled, I don’t know…,” Gundogan said.
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“We live in a world where there are many ways to do things and as long as it is with respect, everyone should be able to show their emotions,” Gundogan protested.
In the upcoming derby, El Clasico, scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the Montjuic Stadium, Vinicius is likely encounter a less friendly atmosphere from Barca fans.
