Vinicius Junior Addresses Controversial Gesture Towards Barca Bench in Spanish Super Cup Final

• Vinicius Junior’s masterclass helped Real Madrid to Spanish Super Cup glory
• The Brazilian bagged a hat trick in Los Blancos’ 4-1 win over Barcelona
• After the game, Vinicius gave a brutally honest interview amid criticism of his antics

Real Madrid ace Vinicius Junior has passionately defended his on-pitch behaviour after Real Madrid’s Spanish Cup victory over Barcelona on Sunday, January 14.

The 23-year-old scored a hat trick in the final, including two goals in 10 minutes to put his side firmly in control of the game.

Robert Lewandowski halved the deficit with a classy volley, but Vinicius all but killed Barcelona’s comeback with a 39th-minute penalty.

As reported by BBC, Rodrygo added a fourth goal in the second half, as Barcelona’s misery was summed up when Ronald Araujo was sent off.

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One viral moment during the game was when Vinicius Junior taunted the incensed Barca fans by flaunting the score line with his hands.

On social media, the move was dubbed as classless by the neutrals, but the Real Madrid ace remains unfazed by the criticism.

"It makes me sad. Everyone wants to fight with me, because they know it will be 'Vini did this, Vini did that' in the press," he said in the post-match interview, as quoted on ESPN.

"Of course, I'm no saint," he added. "Sometimes I talk too much, sometimes I dribble when I shouldn't. But I'm here to improve, and to be a role model to kids. I want to improve."

It was a befitting return for Vinicius, who returned to action from tearing a hamstring in November 2023.

His first goal at Al-Awwal Park in Saudi Arabia was also marked by Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous ‘Siuu’ celebration, and the Brazilian admitted after the game that he performed it because CR7 was his idol.

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Real Madrid’s next assignment

The Spanish Super Cup is only the first of Real Madrid’s possible trophies this season.

Their next game is another crunch derby against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Thursday, January 18. This will be followed by a La Liga clash against Almeria three days later.

Crowd chants Ronaldo’s name

Sports Brief also reported on the chants the crowd resorted to during the Spanish Super Cup final.

This was after news emerged that Ronaldo could potentially come to watch his former team take on Barcelona.

Fans chanted Ronaldo’s name outside the Al-Awwal, and the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s name also rang out in the seventh minute of the final.