Real Madrid News
Barcelona duo come to Vinicius Jr’s defence after another racist incident: “Must respect all opponents”
Vinicius Jr was target of yet another horrible racism incident as Real Madrid traveled to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan to take on Sevilla after the international break.
The game ended 1-1, which was more than what Sevilla fans could have asked for given the controversial refereeing decisions during the game. However, that did not stop them for targeting Vincius, abusing him, and targeting racist insults at him.
If that was not bad enough, a clip of him doing stepovers against Braga was quote tweeted by Barcelona spokesperson Mike Camps on X, who wrote, “It’s not racism, he deserves a slap for being a clown and a joker. What do these unnecessary and meaningless bicycles represent in the centre of the field?“
Vini’s playing style has been called provocative in the past, much like Neymar or a lot of other Brazilian wingers over the last decade. However, Barcelona duo Alejandro Balde and Ferran Torres were asked to comment on the same, and came to his defence.
“No, I don’t think Vincius’ playing style is controversial. I think every player has his own way of playing. I don’t know if there are people who might consider it controversial, while others might see it as part of his playing style,” Balde said.
“However, in the end, we must respect all players,” he added.
Ferran also said, “It’s his style. You may like it, or not, but everyone has their own style.”
As a response to the original tweet by Camps, though, news has surfaced that Florentino Perez has decided not to travel to Barcelona and attend El Clasico at the Olympic Saint Montjuic.
Meanwhile, Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste has addressed a public apology to Vinicius after the Catalans’ 2-1 win against Shakhtar Donetsk, saying, “Even if it was a mistake, it did not have to be done. It is an unfortunate tweet. If you are listening to me Vini, it will not be repeated.”
Real Madrid News
Ex-Real Madrid presidential candidate wanted to bring Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta as manager
The presidential election at Real Madrid this summer was something unprecedented but despite the best efforts of Enrique Riquelme, he couldn’t do much to dethrone Florentino Perez.
That being said, some of Riquelme’s ideas have now become more relevant than ever, including his pitch to sign Jurgen Klopp as the new manager, instead of Jose Mourinho.
However, Riquelme wasn’t always in favour of Klopp and in fact, had initially pitched Mikel Arteta as the next manager for Real Madrid.
Riquelme had favoured Arteta
According to The Athletic, Riquelme had identified Arteta as a potential successor to then-coach Alvaro Arbeloa as part of his election campaign.
The context came amid Arteta’s own contract situation at Arsenal, with the Spaniard having just signed a new four-year deal following the club’s Premier League triumph.
The report notes that Real Madrid were the biggest club searching for a new coach at the time, and Riquelme saw Arteta as an appealing candidate.
Ultimately, though, Riquelme’s campaign shifted towards Klopp, while Perez, who won the election, opted to bring back Mourinho.
As a result, Arteta’s name never progressed beyond an early consideration, and the Spaniard remained fully committed to Arsenal, where he continues to build on his growing legacy.
Arteta has consistently dismissed interest from elsewhere, including links to Barcelona in 2024.
Mourinho has his work cut out
While Real Madrid ultimately chose Mourinho, the early signs suggest the Portuguese has a significant task on his hands.
Los Blancos have endured a stuttering start to the season, already sitting well behind runaway leaders Barcelona in La Liga.
Performances have been inconsistent, with the team lacking intensity and cohesion, and reports have even pointed to unrest within the dressing room.
That has inevitably led to questions over whether a different appointment, such as Arteta or Klopp, might have offered a smoother transition.
Arteta, in particular, has proven his credentials by ending Arsenal’s long wait for a Premier League title, doing so against a dominant Manchester City.
For now, Mourinho must find a way to turn things around and justify Perez’s faith. With a demanding run of fixtures ahead, including El Clasico, the pressure is already building.
