Josep Pedrerol has once again spoken openly about Vinícius Júnior, a player he admires for his footballing talent but criticizes for his behavior on and off the pitch.
“Vinícius is so good, incredibly good… but when the team is drawing 0-0, he’s on the bench laughing. He’s so good… but instead of staying focused, he’s yawning. He’s so good… but when Mbappé scores, he’s more interested in arguing with the referee and the fans than concentrating on the game,” Pedrerol said during the latest edition of El Chiringuito.
The journalist admitted he often feels reluctant to speak about the Brazilian, because while nobody questions his talent, the distractions that surround him wear people out. The match against Real Oviedo was a clear example: one goal and one assist weren’t enough to overshadow the controversies.
Instead of celebrating calmly, Vinícius clashed with the crowd at Carlos Tartiere, needed Kylian Mbappé to calm the situation, and even received a yellow card for trying to win a penalty. Oviedo’s supporters jeered him, calling him a “fool.”
Despite the noise, his contribution on the scoresheet was decisive. His goal condemned Oviedo to relegation, but it once again highlighted the divide between his brilliance and his temperament.
Xabi Alonso, who has already warned him about these lapses in focus, is growing impatient. The new coach expects concentration and discipline, not unnecessary confrontations. He left Vinícius on the bench at the start of the game and could do so again if his behavior doesn’t improve.
Still, after his impact against Oviedo, the Brazilian forward has a strong chance of reclaiming his spot in the starting eleven. Whether he chooses to cut out the distractions and meet his coach’s demands remains the bigger question.
