Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior broke down in tears in a press conference while talking about racism ahead of Brazil’s friendly against Spain on Tuesday.
The Brazilian said that he was struggling to stay motivated and enjoy playing football due to repeated incidents of racist abuse.
He said (as per the Guardian): “I just want to play football. But it’s getting harder and harder to focus – sometimes I just don’t feel like playing anymore.”
Many pundits and fans have come out in support of Vinicius since his emotional breakdown today.
Among them is his former teammate and current Manchester United defender Raphael Varane who posted a supportive message on his social media account.
Varane knows the Brazilian well, with the duo playing together in Madrid for several years.
Vinicius Jr has been a constant target of racist abuse, with one of the major incidents happening in May 2023 during Madrid’s match against Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium.
He pointed out the supporters abusing him and the game was halted for 10 minutes.
The incident led to an outpouring of support for the young winger and set off widespread calls for action by the Spanish authorities.
However, not much appears to have changed, leaving Vinicius to express his frustration over being subjected to more abuse this season.
