Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has joined the likes of Pele and Neymar in pledging his support to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.
Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has pledged his support to Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior ahead of the blockbuster derby at Wanda Metropolitano.
The Brazilian international was subjected to comments with obvious racist connotations by Spanish football agent Pedro Bravo.
Commenting on Vinicius’ dancing goal celebrations, Bravo said El Chiringuito: “You have to respect your opponents. When you score a goal, if you want to dance the samba, you should go to the [sambadrome] in Brazil. You have to respect your friends and stop playing the monkey.”
The remark subsequently sparked widespread criticism, with compatriots Pele and Neymar jumping to the defense of Vinicius, while Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes suggested Bravo should be arrested.
Ahead of the Madrid derby, Los Rojiblancos president Cerezo also offered his support to the 22-year-old and called for a joint show of “respect”.
“I’m going to ask Vinicius to teach me how to samba when I have to go to Brazil for the next festivals in Rio!” he joked to Marc.
“We have to make sure that if Vinicius scores a goal today and if he wants to celebrate it, he celebrates it in the right way and with respect to the whole public in front of him.
“The players express themselves however they want, the only thing that needs to be there is respect for the people who are on a pitch that is not theirs.
Los Blancos will be looking to maintain their perfect start to the 2022-23 season, having won all eight games in all competitions so far.
Meanwhile, Atletico are looking to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat by Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
