Opponent of Real Madrid’s Vinicius admits the abuse has gone too far

Athletic Club’s Dani Garcia has spoken out in favour of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. It is rare to see a rival come to the defence of a fellow player, especially if there has been a significant rivalry between the two players, as is the case with the Basque and the Brazilian.

But in an interview with EUP! of Durangaldeko Telebista, the defender acknowledges that he went too far in trying to take Vinicius out of the game when Real Madrid visited San Mamés in February last year.

The Vinicius tactic is working, says Garcia

“I’m getting tired of this [the Vinicius topic]. But I then spent the summer with him, we coincidentally ran into each other and we had a nice, calm chat. I had a moment [against him in a game] where, with the excitement, everything was fine at first, but then I went too far in provoking him and I think this past weekend [in Mallorca] they went too far as well.

“He also sometimes does gestures that he shouldn’t do, I think both sides are over-provoking each other.

“To be honest, I’m finding the subject wearing. I don’t think he is comfortable with it either. In the end, it has been seen that when you take him out of the game a little, he gets heated and it doesn’t do him any good.”

In that game, one we brought to you live on AS USA on 22 February 2022, Garcia tried to turn the crowd against Vinicius every time he fell to the ground. And it worked, as the Brazilian was more out of the game than in it and had very little impact in a match that the Bilbao players ultimately won by the narrowest of margins (1-0).