Vinicius Junior: Barcelona Legend Carles Puyol Questions Behaviour of Real Madrid Star

Vinicius Junior: Barcelona Legend Carles Puyol Questions Behaviour of Real Madrid Star

Edwin Kiplagat
updated at November 6, 2023 at 3:56 PM
In this article:
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  • Vinicius Junior is one of the best players in Spain
  • In the last two seasons, he has been targeted by opposition fans and even received racist abuse
  • Barcelona and Spain icon Carles Puyol has lauded the young winger but gave him some advice

Barcelona icon Carles Puyol has showered Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior with praise but raised some questions about his attitude.

Vinicius hit the headlines in the last few months after he was targeted by opposition fans and received racist abuse, resulting in worldwide outrage.

Vinicius Junior, Carles Puyol, Barcelona, Real madrid, La Liga, El Clasico
Vinicius Junior has made a slow start to the 2023/24 season. Photos by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno and Juan Naharro Gimenez.
Source: Getty Images

Some fans and pundits are not impressed with the way the Brazilian has carried himself. They have pointed at Vinicius' numerous altercations on the pitch, which have earned him a reputation among opposition fans.

This season, he has not started well. He has played 11 games in all competitions and scored just three goals, but he has missed four games due to injury.

Before the arrival of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius was Madrid's most important player. In the 2021/22 season, he scored 22 goals and produced 20 assists, per Transfermarkt. That season, he scored the only goal as Madrid won their 14th European Cup.

Puyol on Vinicius

Puyol admitted that Vinicius is a great player, adding that he admires the Brazilian international, but he feels something must change for him to get more "recognition."

“I would love to talk to him as a fellow footballer and tell him what I think and what I feel. He is a great player who makes a difference and should be admired in every field. If he would change his attitude he would get more recognition,” via Barca Universal.

The 23-year-old certainly has the talent to become the best player in the world, and he's proved that many times. Can he rediscover his form in the coming months?

He finished 6th in the 2023 Ballon d'Or and won the Socrates Award, which recognized his humanitarian work.

Vinicius signs new Real Madrid contract

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Vinicius signing a new deal at Real Madrid until 2027.

He joined Real Madrid in 2018 from Brazilian club Flamengo and has developed into one of La Liga's standout players.

His release clause is reportedly 1 billion euros.

Authors
Edwin Kiplagat photo
Edwin Kiplagat
Edwin Kiplagat has five years of experience in journalism working as a Sports Editor at Africa Insight Communications and ESPN. Edwin Kiplagat is a Bachelor's Degree holder in journalism from the Multimedia University of Kenya.