Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr has reacted to a mocking tifo held by Man City fans during Champions League knockout playoffs at Etihad, MySportDab reports.
As the players walked out of the tunnel ready for the rollercoaster clash, a huge tifo spread over a section of Man City fans, targeting Vinicius Jr could be seen.
With a picture of Rodri kissing his Ballon d’Or award, the Tifo reads, “Stop crying your heart out.”
Eagle-eyed fans spotted Rodri, apparently teased and triggered by the Tifo, rolling out his camera to snap and record the Tifo.
When Vinicius Jr was asked about the Tifo after the match, he admitted to seeing it but added such overtures only inspire him to work harder and be a better player.
“I saw the banner from Man City fans… and it motivated me even more”.
“Whenever rival fans do things, it gives me more strength to play a great game,” he said as Fabrizio Romano quotes.
MySportDab understands Man City’s Tifo stems from the controversies that swirled around the decision to award Rodri the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or Award instead of Vinicius Jr.
For sports icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and many football fans, Vinicius Jr deserved the award more than Rodri and was unfairly robbed by the decision.
Real Madrid went as far as boycotting the award after they learnt in the last hours that the Brazilian forward is not the slated winner of the award.
Away from the Ballon d’Or wrangles that has dragged on, Vinicius Jr put up a brilliant performance as Real Madrid came from behind twice to edge out City in the match.
Goals by Kylian Mbappe, substitute Brahim Dia, and a late winner by Jude Bellingham saw Los Blancos grab a dramatic 3-2 victory to go into the second leg at home with an advantage.
