Vinícius Júnior has entered the limelight as the centre of controversy recently. However, Dani Ceballos has sided with his Real Madrid teammate.
Vinícius Júnior is loved by Real Madrid fans but his relationship with the rest of La Liga is not the same. This is not only because he terrorises La Liga defenders but his comments about Spain did not sit well.
For those who missed it, Viní recently made some comments about the 2030 World Cup being held in Spain, which did not sit well with local Spanish football supporters.
Then, after finding the back of the net against Real Sociedad, Vinícius Júnior celebrated by silencing the home supporters, with his index finger to his lips.
Dani Carvajal defends Vinícius Júnior after Real Madrid goal celebration
Dani Carvajal recently spoke about Vinícius Júnior's goal celebration and spoke in favour of the celebration. In fact, Carvajal completely sided with his teammate after his experiences with the crowd.
In his own words (via beIN Sports), Dani Carvajal said: "From inside the field, we heard insults directed at Vini. When you're provoked, it's natural to respond, and it's common for players to react in such situations when they’re not left alone."
Carvajal then suggested stricter punishments made be in place for racist treatment to players: "As Real Madrid's captain, I stand firmly against any racial abuse in our league and football. We need to implement tougher protocols to eradicate these issues."
It is frankly impossible to find flaws in Carvajal's statement. As someone held in high regard at Real Madrid and an authority figure, he was best-placed to make a bulletproof statement such as this.
Carvajal has essentially said "provoke, then expect a reaction." It is great to see that Vinícius Júnior is not alone and the Brazilian star will appreciate such protection from a senior figure.
Vinícius Júnior is one of the best players in the world right now. In fact, he is one of the top contenders for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, his nomination justified when he scored a goal in the UEFA Champions League.
But Viní does not need to earn the right to avoid racial abuse by fans of any team. Needless to say, this is a right which is innate, not earned.
Whether fans agree with Viní's stance on Spain hosting the World Cup is a different issue. Fans can have their opinions which are different to the player's. However, it does not justify abuse.
Carlo Ancelotti backed Dani Carvajal, claiming: "As Real Madrid's captain, I stand firmly against any racial abuse in our league and football. We need to implement tougher protocols to eradicate these issues."