VInisius was not alone. And the Bernabéu understood that right away. After the first Champions League night without Xabi Alonso on the bench, on a delicate night when the stadium was still measuring every gesture, Mbappe assumed a role that went far beyond goal. But despite the stadium’s apparent tolerance from the start, the Brazilian was sent off without celebrating his stunning goal with the crowd. It was the perfect time to bury the hatchet, but No. 7 didn’t think so.
He slipped into the opponent’s half, moved forward until he found an opening and fired a dry shot into the top corner of the goal. A work of art that raised the temple of Madrid… But not for Vinicius, and he clearly understood that. This gesture will probably be talked about more than Real Madrid’s great game. The Brazilian player made it clear that he did not want to celebrate the goal with the white fans, despite Mbappé’s attempts to take him towards the fans for a definitive forgiveness.
Kylian Mbapp coaches Thibaut Courtois with a great goal
However, rather than start running towards the corner flag, Vinicius headed towards the center of the field where several teammates were waiting. He hugged them and then went straight to Arbeloa. Without hesitation, he melted into a sincere embrace with much to say. This is partly due to the Spanish manager’s unwavering defense of his players from his first day in charge of the first team.
Mbappe’s Vini man mark
Every time Vinicius intervened, whether successful or not, Mbappe turned to the stands. Raise your arms, keep your eyes steady, and send a clear message of support. More love. And be patient a little longer until Vinicius gets back into football shape and finds happiness. “We also have to protect him better so that he doesn’t get lonely. He will never be lonely at Madrid,” the No. 10 said on the eve of the match. And so it was. He repeated it over and over again, as if he was determined to mark the stadium to protect No. 7.
A goal, a Champions League anthem to tame the white beast and a 2-0 scoreline calmed the mood. Moreover, with the action Vinicius returned the gesture to his teammates. A pass was sent to the far post and all Mbappé had to do was tuck it in. And then there was the hugging in celebration. Long and sincere. He’s the type to say more than meets the eye because he knew the Brazilians needed it.
moment of forgiveness
The turning point came in the 41st minute. Vinicius tried to play roulette in the middle of the field, but almost fell and ended up losing the ball. A noise appeared…but it didn’t last long. The Bernabéu immediately responded with loud applause, quashing any attempt at condemnation. Real Madrid fans chose Vinicius. And Mbappe has already been on one side for a long time.
The Brazilian star finished in style in the second half, setting up a 3-0 victory over Mastatuono. When you have fun together…love comes naturally. And the Bernabéu let him know that. “Vinicius, Vinicius, Vinicius,” cried the Bernabéu.
A hug to “Madridismo”
In a subsequent press conference, Arbeloa was asked about Vini’s hug and clarified: “His hug is a hug for Madridismo, a hug for a teammate and a support for the Bernabéu.”
