Man City ace lauds Real Madrid superstar – ‘He’s a champion and must be loved by everyone’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr. is perhaps one of modern football’s biggest scapegoats, often finding himself being subjected to racism, jeers and whistles, from opposition fans.

His relatively poor run of form since the Ballon d’Or heartbreak in 2024 hasn’t helped his case either. However, in the past few weeks, the Brazilian has truly vindicated himself.

Indeed, it was Vinicius who was perhaps Real Madrid’s most impactful player as Los Blancos secured a 5-1 aggregate win over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

The Brazilian international scored two of the goals himself and was a constant spark in the Real Madrid frontline across the two legs.

Donnarumma heaps praise on Vinicius Jr.

Vinicius’ performances have been such that he has earned praise even from the opposition, including Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, even though he was not impressed with the attacker during the game.

Following Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Manchester City on Tuesday, the Italian heaped praise on the attacker for his consistent display across the two legs.

Vinicius Jr. produced a solid display vs Man City. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“Vinicius is a champion, he must be loved by everyone. He has played two great games,” the goalkeeper said (h/t AS).

Vinicius’ solid run of form comes against the backdrop of his uncertain contract situation at Real Madrid, with the player yet to pen a deal with the club.

The Brazilian’s hefty wage demands have so far proven to be a hurdle, but his recent performances could be a step in the right direction.

There is, still, however, a lot to do. If Vinicius truly wants to earn a long-term contract at the Bernabeu, he must help Real Madrid not only compete with Barcelona for the league title but also help his team win the Champions League.

So far, Real Madrid are trailing Barcleona by four points at the top, whereas Los Blancos are slated to take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals – a tough assignment indeed for Alvaro Arbeloa’s men.