Forward Vinicius Junior is one of the attractions of the classic against Spain on Tuesday (26) at the Santiago Bernabéu. A victim of a series of racist attacks in recent years in Europe, the 23-year-old player expressed his struggle against racism in a heartfelt manner on Monday (25).
He is confirmed as a starter in the match, which will also be part of the anti-racism campaign promoted by the CBF and the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The game will kick off at 5 pm (Brasília time) and will be broadcast on various Grupo Globo platforms.
At the start of the press conference, forward Vinicius Junior stated that he “has less and less desire to play.”
“I believe it is very sad everything I have been going through in every game, every day, with each report, this feeling increases. It’s very sad, but it’s not just me, but all black people who suffer verbal racism daily, which is a minority compared to everything black people endure in the world,” said the player, who interrupted at least four times to cry during the interview held at Real Madrid’s training center press room.
He shared that he continues his anti-racist fight for “all the people who root” for his success. “They send me more messages to fight with them. I have a great strength within me, in my family, at home. Not everyone has the support I have at home. They can speak for so many people. I want to continue for them, who know what I really go through and have gone through. And it is very difficult,” he said.
“With each report, people insult me more and more. They think I am against Spain, but I am not against Spain, I am against racists worldwide, from all over. I want equality for all of us,” he added.
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WHAT DID VINICIUS SAY?
SUPPORT FROM PLAYERS
“I want to thank in advance all the players from Spain who always support me in interviews, doing everything to change Spain’s mindset. Not only Spain, there is racism everywhere. I hope we can do everything to reduce racism more and more. The players from Spain are helping me a lot, saying things that initially only I said. I always ask FIFA, CONMEBOL, UEFA to do more things, as CBF is doing, helping me so that we can evolve as human beings, so that everyone can study to see what black people go through and have gone through. What I go through is not even close to what all these people have gone through. I want to fight for those who are black.”
THOUGHTS ON LEAVING REAL MADRID
“I did think about leaving, yes. But if I leave here, I am giving what the racists want. I will continue fighting and playing in the best club in the world, winning titles and scoring many goals, so they can see my face more and more. I continue to evolve for this. Playing football and bringing joy to my people and everyone who goes to the stadium. Racists will always be a minority. As I am a daring player, playing for Real Madrid and winning many titles, it is complicated. But I will continue strong because the president supports me, the club supports me, so that I can continue and achieve many things.”
CRITICISM
“I believe they need to talk less about everything I do wrong on the field, of course I have to improve, but I am 23 years old, it’s a natural process, I left Brazil very young, couldn’t learn so many things. I am 23 years old and continue to learn. Why can’t the Spanish reporters, who are older than me, study and see what is really happening? I am getting sadder every time, I have less and less desire to play, but I will continue fighting.”
WHAT FRUSTRATES YOU THE MOST?
“The lack of consequences. If we start punishing all these people who commit crimes and here they do not consider it a crime, we will start to evolve, everything will get better for everyone. I make so many reports, many times they send letters to make more reports, but in the end it ends up like what happened with my friend in Barcelona, they archive the process and no one knows anything. If we start punishing these people, not that they will change their mindset, but they will be afraid to speak out, whether in the stadium where there are cameras… and thus we will reduce this, instill fear in those people. And that they can also educate their children. Many times here there are children cursing at me and I don’t blame the child because they do not understand, at their age I did not understand racism. It is complicated.”
“In football there are many people, so many players better than me who have passed through here, I want to make people in the world evolve, improve, so that we can have equality, that in the near future there are fewer cases of racism, that black people can have a normal life like others. I want to continue fighting for this. If it were up to me, I would have already given up, stay at home where no one will insult me or do anything to me… I go to games with a focus on playing my best for my team, but it is not always possible. I have to concentrate a lot every day… (Vinicius cries).”
WHY ARE YOU A TARGET OF SO MANY INSULTS EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T PLAY?
“I believe it is very sad everything I have been going through here in every game, every day, with each report of mine increasing. I also believe that black people and not only in Spain but all over the world suffer daily. Verbal racism is a minority compared to everything black people endure. My father always had difficulty working because he is black. In doubt, they always choose the white person. I fight for everything that has been happening to me. It is exhausting; you are somewhat alone in everything. I have made many reports and no one is punished. I fight for those who will come and my family. If it were just me, I would have given up already. I go home sad; I was chosen so I study more about it every day. My brother is five years old; I hope he does not go through everything that I am going through.”
HOW DO YOU ENVISION THE BERNABÉU?
“It will be a dream come true for me to play at my home here in Spain, the Bernabéu, with the Brazilian national team jersey where I always dreamed of being. And for the first time with the crowd against us. It will be a very important duel for both teams; some of the biggest in the world have not faced each other for a long time. We like playing against the best as we did against England; we managed to have a great game. Today we have preparation for tomorrow’s game against some of my teammates; I am very happy and excited for this duel; hope Brazil can emerge victorious.”
MESSAGE TO ENDRICK
“Very happy to see Endrick scoring his first goal for the national team with me watching closely. I met him when he was 15 years old, and he had the same dreams he has now, to be very happy, to achieve great things in football, and he has been evolving every day, maturing, doing so many things at just 17 years old. This is important for him, for his family. I hope he can stay on the right path, listen to more experienced people like I had my process here at Real Madrid, listen to these people and mature so quickly. Arriving here at 18 years old, it’s important to have that calmness. It’s the biggest club in the world, there’s a lot of pressure, many people speaking well and poorly of you. I hope he can do his best, if he is doing well, I will be doing well, if I am doing well, my teammates will be doing well, and if my teammates are doing well, the club will be doing well. I hope he can have peace of mind, I will be here to help him in everything.”
HOW DO YOU FEEL A YEAR AFTER VALENCIA?
“With each report, people insult me more and more. They think I am against Spain, but I am not against Spain, I am against racists worldwide, from all over. I want equality for all of us. After a year, I had many contacts, meetings, conversations with people who want to make things progress and others who just want to hear what I have to say but don’t want to move forward. Every day I have to show my face here, those who like me will speak well, those who don’t will speak poorly. I have to try to assimilate this because big federations and important people in the world can do this to me, but often they are hesitant. I ask for help from FIFA, Conmebol, UEFA, CBF, large groups that can truly combat this. La Liga is evolving, trying to improve, but the laws in Spain prevent them from doing so much. Sometimes it’s complicated, I can’t speak about the League, they had meetings with me, they want to evolve, but here racism is not a crime, it’s a bit complicated for them. Players are also helping me, I always thank the players who speak about it. It gives me more strength to keep fighting for those who suffer every day.”
STUDYING
“Today I understand more about racism, that’s why I speak more confidently. I have been studying, seeing what people have gone through. Muhammad Ali stopped fighting for this cause, to fight for his own people. I am here to speak for Brazil; with Brazilians, I feel more welcomed, more everything; it’s my country where people really defend me and I can speak calmly because I speak Portuguese and can express myself better. Questions are about things that have already happened; they are not attacking me or denying me the right to respond.”
MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM RACISM
“Let us all come together defending each other so that things change. We, black people, know that we always have to do twice as much. If we are together, it’s better for me, for you, and our families. We have to stick together. Many support us but not with so much strength. Only those who are black know what really happens.”
