The constant fight against racism
that
Vinicius Junior
has been trying to lead in recent years
is not news .
Both when he defends the Real Madrid shirt and when he does it with Brazil's.
He was involved in several scandals in order not to fail in his crusade of living football without insults or racial discrimination.
But this Monday, at the press conference prior to the friendly that his team will play on Tuesday against Spain,
the forward said enough and opened his heart to the extreme
.
He did it through tears, covering his face at times and expressing his deepest feelings
.
In this way, different from the usual brave and brave facet with which he faces racism even on the court,
Vinicius answered a question about his fight
.
"I understand that people talk about what they talk about, about what I do in games, because I have many things to improve, but
I have been studying the issue of racism for a long time and I have less and less desire to play
," he told the 23-year-old striker. years while surprising everyone present in the room.
"
I draw strength from my family and from the people who tell me to continue fighting and defending what I believe in
," he confessed, his voice cracking.
And he added: "
I want to continue fighting for all the people who need it
."
🇧🇷 VinĂcius became emotional at the Brazil conference when answering questions about racism.
"I'm sorry. I just want to play football, do everything I can for my club and my family, and make sure black people don't suffer."pic.twitter.com/LmClc0VlGy
— Sudanalytics (@sudanalytics_) March 25, 2024
"
One skin
"
is the motto that the player from Flamengo has tattooed on his back and constantly defends, which he made clear why he will never give up.
"It happened to my father too, they chose a white man over a black man. It's something I notice, and I fight because they chose me...
I fight so that in the near future it doesn't happen to anyone again
," express.
There were forty seconds of silence
that invaded the press room before Vinicius' tears.
Eyes and cameras were only on him as he tried to continue speaking.
"
I'm sorry. I just want to play football
, do everything possible for my club and my family, and make sure black people don't suffer," were his words.
In the middle of his statement, after recovering emotionally, he also made it clear that footballers and colleagues are another great support that allows him to remain firm in his social combat.
"I feel supported by my teammates and by the footballers. I hope and wish that racism goes less.
All that remains is to work and continue on the path already started
," the winger confessed.
He also thanked Real Madrid for their continued support: "
I have thought so much about leaving here (fight against racism)... because if I leave here, I am going to give the racists what they want
.
I want to stay here, in the best club in the world (Real Madrid), so that they continue to see my face.
I continue to evolve for these things, to be the joy of all the people who go to the stadium."
Vinicius is preparing to face Spain in Madrid, against a crowd that was hostile to him on more than one occasion.
Photo: EFE/ Kiko Huesca.
Nor was he forgotten about the social work that is being carried out in his native country and his National Team, which in recent months launched a black t-shirt in respect to this fight.
"The president has also exercised the laws of Brazil, and work has been done to eliminate racism from Brazil. I hope that other federations in the world work on it too, that it serves as a precedent and that the same thing happens again every two or three days.
Mohamed Ali was an example, and I am here to speak on behalf of Brazilians
," he said.
And he closed his opinion on the subject by not letting go of the annoyance that comes with seeing how many people are against him worldwide.
"
Every complaint I make seems to be worse. I am not fighting against the fans of Spain, I am fighting against racism in the world
. I have spoken with many people who have wanted to help me...
there will be people who speak well of me, and I speak badly... but I have to get used to that
. I always plan to help all organizations to combat racism," he expressed.
The Brazilian National Team, which has just beaten England 1-0 at Wembley, will close its European tour when it faces Spain
,
this Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. (Argentina time).
The friendly will be played precisely at the
Santiago Bernabéu
, home of Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior, in front of a stadium full of fans to whom the Brazilian experienced more than once the hostile climate they presented to him.