'They're trying to unhinge Vinicius Jr' - Thibaut Courtois says Real Madrid team-mate is copying Eden Hazard and Diego Costa to deal with opponents trying to 'take him out of the game'

Real Madrid faced their neighbours Getafe at the Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday in what was their first game upon the resumption of club football after the international break. Xabi Alonso's men ground out a nervy 1-0 win against Jose Bordalas' troops, with Kylian Mbappe scoring the game's only goal in the 80th minute after an assist from Arda Guler.

Vini Jr. was not named in the starting lineup by Alonso, who opted to play Rodrygo in the left wing role as part of his rotational scheme, along with an eye on the crucial midweek Champions League game against Juventus and the weekend El Clasico clash against Barcelona. The Brazilian was introduced in the 55th minute in place of Franco Mastantuono.  

After coming off the bench, Vini failed to get himself involved in the game enough to create damage in the final third. The turning point, however, came courtesy of the 25-year-old. In the 76th minute, with the score still 0-0, Bordalas decided to sub out Kiko Femenia, already on a yellow, for Allan Nyom. Just a minute later, Nyom was shown a straight red by referee Jose Munuera Montero after the former Cameroon international flung out his arm, catching Vini's face while the forward was making an offensive run. Three minutes later, Mbappe fired home his 10th league goal of the season, before Alex Sancris, who had already been cautioned earlier in the game, was shown a second yellow card in the 84th minute following a rash challenge on Vini.  

The decisions in officiating evoked outrage from both Bordalas and several Getafe players. Winger Adrian Liso said, "He doesn't even want to talk to us," referring to the referee. "Not even the VAR saw it. He didn't want to. I don't even want to look at it, such an early red card. None of them are red cards, none. If they give me a yellow card, it already ruins the game for me; they have to substitute me. Then Nyom gives him a tackle that could have easily been a yellow card. Every decision went his way, so very bad." 

Ever since Vini Jr. stepped foot in Spain following his move from Flamengo in the summer of 2018, he has been subjected to inappropriate treatment from both the opposition fans and players. In a game against Atletico Madrid's reserve team, Vini, who was playing for Real Madrid Castilla, was bitten on the head by an opponent. 

Over the years, he has not been protected enough by the referees, who have allowed opposition players to foul the winger at will and without facing any consequences. What's more, he has faced racial abuse on numerous occasions. 

In December 2022, five Real Valladolid fans hurled racial slurs at Vini. In January 2023, ahead of a Copa del Rey quarter-final clash between Madrid and rivals Atletico, Vini was subjected to more hate. Frente Atletico, a radical group of Atletico Madrid supporters, hung an effigy – dressed in a Real Madrid shirt with Vini's name and the No.20 on the back – from a bridge near Madrid's Valdebebas training facility along with a banner that read, "Madrid hates Real."  

On Sunday, Getafe supporters sang "Balon de playa, Vinicius balon de playa" (Beach ball, Vinicius beach ball – a chant to mock him for finishing second in the 2024 Ballon d'Or rankings) for long spells in the second half. These are just some of the many instances which highlight that Vini has been unfairly asked to improve his own behaviour despite substantial evidence suggesting that he's often the victim, and not the perpetrator. 

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Courtois said, “Many of you have made fun of him. He arrived as a child... the other day, without provocation, but they're trying to unhinge him. His entry was very good. His response was also good. He has to keep doing what he does.

“It's not always easy when an entire stadium is after you, when players are hitting you... He's been improving. They're trying to take you out of the game. I think he's learned to live with it and even unnerve opponents. I think that's fine. It's what Diego Costa did when I was at Atleti, or Hazard did at Chelsea.” 

After playing for just over half an hour at the weekend, Vinicius will be expected to return to the starting lineup on Wednesday when Los Blancos welcome an underperforming Juventus side at the Santiago Bernabeu in matchday three of the Champions League. Buoyed by the support of the Madrid faithful, the former Flamengo prodigy will be aiming to add to his tally of five goals and four assists to help Madrid maintain the momentum ahead of the monumental clash against arch-rivals Barcelona this weekend.