Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has been hit with a six-match suspension by UEFA following a discriminatory exchange with Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. The 20-year-old was found guilty of using homophobic language during a Champions League clash in Lisbon.
Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has jumped to the defence of Vinicius Junior after the Brazilian forward successfully navigated a hostile atmosphere at the Bernabeu to score the winning goal against Alaves in La Liga on Tuesday. Despite the tension following a disappointing Champions League exit, the winger proved to be the difference-maker as Los Blancos secured a vital victory in their pursuit of catching Barcelona.
Real Madrid bounced back from their four-match winless run and kept their slim title hopes in La Liga alive with a 2-1 victory over Alaves on Tuesday. Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr got the job done for Alvaro Arbeloa's side, who closed the gap on leaders Barcelona to six points for at least the next 24 hours.
Vinicius Junior continues to generate plenty of lively discussion at Real Madrid, but Michael Owen has told GOAL why the Brazilian superstar is “so big and so good” that only “two teams” could afford to put a transfer deal in place. The South American forward has become a divisive character in world football, but Owen doubts that he will trade Santiago Bernabeu for another landing spot in Europe or the Saudi Pro League.
Real Madrid’s era of dominance feels like a distant memory as the financial consequences of two consecutive seasons without major silverware take a heavy toll. The Bernabeu is witnessing a shocking decline in overall squad value, with marquee attackers Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior both suffering steep drops to their personal market valuations amid the team's ongoing struggles.
Despite being a leading figure at Santiago Bernabeu, Vinicius Jr is reportedly missing a vital ingredient required to join the pantheon of footballing greats. Former Brazil and Atletico Madrid defender Joao Miranda has offered a stinging appraisal of the Brazilian winger’s standing in the global game. The Real Madrid star has been told he is still a long way off reaching the legendary heights of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Following Bayern Munich’s spectacular quarter-final against Real Madrid, pundit Ewald Lienen reserved scathing criticism for Vinicius Junior and also took aim at Antonio Rüdiger, going so far as to demand consequences for the pair ahead of the World Cup.
Former Real Madrid scout Manolo Romero has launched a scathing attack on Vinicius Junior following the Spanish giants' dramatic Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich. The veteran talent-spotter questioned the Brazilian’s footballing intelligence and clinical edge after a chaotic 6-4 aggregate defeat ended Madrid’s European campaign.
Real Madrid’s defeat to Bayern Munich has laid bare the club’s less appealing side. The Merengues have reacted like spoilt children, venting frustration at every turn. Their insistence that they were “robbed” in Munich only confirms their status as football’s most unsympathetic outfit, even though it was the record champions who had genuine cause for complaint for long periods of the contest.
Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior were involved in a furious on-field spat as Real Madrid crashed out of the Champions League against Bayern Munich. The England international was left incensed by his team-mate's decision-making during a pivotal moment of the second half, leading to a blunt verbal exchange between the two superstars.
Real Madrid’s team bus departed the Allianz Arena without Vinicius Junior following their dramatic Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich. The Brazilian forward was required to stay behind in Bavaria to complete mandatory post-match duties.
Jude Bellingham has opened up on the tactical challenges of sharing the pitch with superstars Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid. Ahead of a season-defining Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich, the England international admitted that finding a cohesive rhythm with two naturally left-sided attackers is not always straightforward.
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