Neymar has stepped in to defend Vinicius Jr following remarks from Manchester City star Rodri, who advised the Real Madrid winger to “pay attention” if he wants to improve as a player.
Rodri, who recently won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, spoke about the young Brazilian, saying: “I think he’s intelligent and will realise over time that focusing on the pitch is key to becoming better.
Like everyone, he has areas for improvement both on and off the pitch. Being at Madrid, a club with strong values, will help him get the right advice.”
These comments didn’t sit well with Neymar. The Al-Hilal star responded on Instagram with a sharp retort, saying: “He [Rodri] became a talker now.”
The tension between Rodri and some in the Real Madrid camp seems to stem from the Ballon d’Or ceremony, which Madrid reportedly boycotted after learning Vinicius wouldn’t win the award.
Rodri’s remarks have now added more fuel to the fire.
While Rodri continues to recover from a season-ending knee injury, Vinicius Jr will turn his attention to Madrid’s upcoming La Liga game against Leganes on Sunday.
Whether this off-pitch drama will affect either player remains to be seen, but it has certainly sparked plenty of debate among fans.
Leave a Reply