Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has claimed Vinícius Júnior is the most persecuted footballer in history.
According to Ancelotti, the Brazilian winger is treated worse on the pitch than any player he has coached in his career.
Vinícius scored the only goal as Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw in the Champions League round-of-16 draw with RB Leipzig at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
But he was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card for shoving Leipzig captain Willi Orbán.
Last weekend, Vinicius was repeatedly jeered by the crowd at the Mestalla during Madrid’s 2-2 draw with Valencia, having been racially abused by a group of fans in the same fixture last season.
“I’ve looked back a bit, at history, at statistics, and I’ve never seen a player who’s been persecuted like Vinícius,” Ancelotti said in a news conference on Saturday, ahead of Madrid’s LaLiga game with Celta Vigo.
“He’s kicked, he’s whistled, he’s insulted. And what does he do? He scores goals and provides assists. And then I’m supposed to talk to him about his attitude? No!
“Everyone should change their attitude regarding Vinícius.”