- Vinicius speaks for the first time about the Benzema incident
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has spoken for the first time about the criticism towards him from teammate Karim Benzema in last month’s Champions League match against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Benzema was seen at half time of the game telling Madrid left-back Ferland Mendy not to pass the ball to the Brazilian forward. Benzematold Mendy: “He (Vinicius) does what he wants. Brother, don’t play with him, oh my God. He is playing against us.”
Mendy is then quoted as saying in response: “When he becomes scared, he loses what makes him great.”
The three players were then shown on the pitch after the break, talking and gesturing to each other but the comments were not audible. Stats from the second half of the match show Mendy passed the ball to Vinicius three times in the second half, with the Brazilian passing returning the favor three times.
But now Vinicius Jr has spoken to Spanish newspaper ABC and has given this opinion on the matter.
“That incident was noise. That noise is not for me. Among professionals we know very well what that is.”
“There are codes that you do not know. Karim (Benzema) and I are not only teammates of the same team, which is already a lot, but we are professionals and we know the environment in which we operate.”
“Our relationship is excellent,” concluded Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane also commented on the incident.
“Many things are said on the pitch and they stay there. We are a team and we need energy for other things. It is good that things happen because it shows that we are alive. They talked and that’s it.”
