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Brazil had just beaten England 1-0 last month when they contacted Vinicius Jr for an interview at Wembley’s combined zone.
‘But are we going to communicate about football?'” the Real Madrid striker replied with a smile.
After the positive response, he agreed to answer a few questions. Already knowing that he would give a press conference a few days later in Madrid that would be governed by his private fight against racism, Vinicius addressed the issue in London. .
And that’s what he did. But then, while speaking ahead of Brazil’s friendly against Spain, he broke down in tears as he spoke of the consequences of the racist abuse he continues to suffer in Spanish stadiums.
“I just need to play football, but it’s hard for me to keep going. I’m feeling sadder and sadder and less and less eager to play,” he said. “At 23 years old, I have to teach a lot of Spaniards what racism is. “is. “
Vinicius Jr: “Racist abuse means I don’t need to play as much”
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The fact that a superstar from the club and the world’s greatest national team has reached the point of his long career at this point in his career only underscores just how far the scenario has evolved.
La Liga referred 10 racist incidents involving Vinicius to Spanish prosecutors last season, but it appears little has been done so far.
When Real Madrid take on Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday, the number seven may not be identified as the most talented player on the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu; Yes, participate in that conversation.
But he’s the most important footballer in the world right now.
Their fight goes beyond football.
In recent years, Vinicius has been the leading black voice in the fight against racism in football and, despite the emotional toll it takes on him, he has no intention of backing down.
“Vinicius breaks the silence that surrounded this factor and that was imposed through the football industry in the past,” Marcelo Carvalho, founder and executive director of the Observatory on Racial Discrimination in Football, told BBC Sport.
“He’s fighting a racist system. “
Growing up in Sao Gonçalo, the most dangerous city in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, Vinicius had to overcome all obstacles to get to the top.
However, none of this prepared him for what he would face in Spain after leaving Flamengo for Real Madrid at age 18 in 2018, with incessant insults from the stands, monkey chants and an effigy from a bridge pointing at him.
“I’ve looked back a little bit and I’ve noticed a player being chased like Vinicius,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said last month.
The scenario is such that it has become a diplomatic issue, as the Brazilian government has summoned the Spanish ambassador to the incidents and has asked for measures to put an end to them.
While the feeling of impunity persists, Vinicius acts alone.
Last year, the striker pushed a crusade under the slogan “Racism, don’t pretend you don’t see it” on billboards across his country and even on Black Awareness Day. He has also contributed to the renovation of several schools in his country through his and has published an anti-racism manual to make the educational environment more inclusive.
He has also spoken out on social media about cases of racism involving footballers.
“These projects are 100% consistent with Cent that he owns. What we are doing is pushing them forward and giving them more strength to fight. We give him advice, but at the end of the day, it’s his struggle. He started a war against racism out of thin air. He suffered,” his agent Frederico Peña. Es combatively said. It has been. It’s a matter for the circle of relatives. “
Unhappy with the remedy he won in La Liga last season, Vinicius toyed with the idea of leaving Real Madrid, but it can now be argued that his relationship with the organisation has changed. There is popularity from the league’s recent efforts.
Concerns have arisen within his entourage about the effect of racist abuse on his performances but, despite complaints about his behaviour on the pitch, Vinicius may be on course to have his most productive season yet.
With 18 goals and six assists for Los Blancos this campaign, Vinicius is just Jude Bellingham in terms of numbers for the Spanish giants: the English midfielder has 20 goals and 10 assists to his name.
“Obviously, racism affects him in one way or another. We can see that he responds better during matches,” Carvalho said of Vinicius.
“So while it’s wonderful to have someone as tough as Vinicius involved in this fight, it’s also detrimental to him to be in that position because of the strain he can feel on the pitch and from other clubs and sponsors who need to silence him. “
He hopes to leave all that apart from City and, when the whistle blows, do what he does best: play football.