Former Barcelona center-back Carles Puyol has offered some advice to Vinicius Jr, urging the Brazilian talent to concentrate on his football skills amidst criticism of his emotional behaviour on the pitch.
The Real Madrid forward’s emotional displays on the field have often made headlines, leading to criticism from both rival players and fans. Carles Puyol, who once captained Barcelona, the arch-rival of Vinicius’ team, has added his perspective to the ongoing discussion.
The former Spain international recommends that Vinicius redirect his emotions towards enhancing his on-field performance.
“I would love to talk to him as a soccer teammate and share my thoughts and feelings. He is a great player who can make a difference and should be admired. If he can control his attitude, he would earn even more recognition,” Puyol conveyed to reporters as quoted by Goal.com.
Despite the criticisms, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has consistently supported Vinicius, even going so far as to claim that the young winger was “disrespected” in a recent match against Athletic Club in January.
It’s worth noting that Vinicius was the most fouled player in La Liga last year, which is a testament to the challenges he faces on the field. In addition to his football career, Vinicius Jr has also been a victim of racist abuse, which has prompted him to emerge as a significant ambassador against racism.
In his home country of Brazil, the “Vini law” was passed to punish all racists within its jurisdiction. Vinicius has shown great strength in the face of such adversity and has continued to excel on the field. In the ongoing La Liga season, the young winger has already contributed two goals and one assist in nine appearances.
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