Real Madrid legend Jorge Valdano has defended Vinicius Junior after his controversial red card against Villarreal, arguing that the Brazilian acted instinctively rather than with bad intent.
Real Madrid legend surprisingly defends Vinicius after controversial red card
Vinicius Junior has received unexpected support from Real Madrid legend Jorge Valdano after his controversial red card against Villarreal.
The Brazilian was sent off after pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair during the second half of Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory.
The incident caused huge criticism across Spain, with many accusing Vinicius of losing control and hurting his own team.
But Valdano believes the action should not be seen as a deliberate attempt to hurt or play dirty against his opponent.
Valdano defends Vinicius
Speaking on Movistar Plus, Valdano gave a very different view of the incident compared with many other former players and pundits.
He described Vinicius’ action as an instinctive reaction during a physical battle with Saliba.
“It is an absolutely instinctive gesture,” Valdano said.
According to the former Real Madrid player and coach, Vinicius felt pressure from his opponent and reacted while trying to escape the challenge.
‘I don’t see bad intent’
Valdano then made his strongest defence of the Brazilian.
“I don’t see intentionality or nastiness in the action,” he said.
His argument is that Vinicius clearly committed an illegal action, but that does not automatically mean he wanted to hurt Saliba.
For Valdano, there is an important difference between breaking the rules and deliberately acting with bad intent.
Valdano still admits the action was illegal
The Real Madrid legend did not claim that Vinicius did nothing wrong.
He admitted that the Brazilian tried to escape from Saliba in an illegal way.
Valdano even described it as one of the most illegal ways possible to get away from an opponent.
His defence is therefore focused on Vinicius’ intention, not on whether the referee had a reason to punish him.
How the red card happened
The controversy started when Vinicius thought he had scored Real Madrid’s second goal.
However, VAR spotted the earlier incident between him and Saliba.
Replays showed Vinicius pulling the Villarreal player’s hair during the attacking move.
Referee Isidro Diaz de Mera reviewed the footage, cancelled the goal and showed Vinicius a direct red card for violent conduct.
Real Madrid were then forced to finish the match with ten players.
Valdano compares it with more serious actions
Valdano also tried to explain why he does not believe the incident should be viewed as a dirty act.
He compared it with actions that clearly show intention, such as spitting at an opponent.
In his view, the Vinicius incident was different because it happened in the middle of a physical situation and appeared to be a quick reaction.
That is why Valdano believes the Brazilian should not automatically be described as acting with malice.
Former Barcelona player strongly disagrees
Valdano’s opinion has not been shared by everyone.
Former Barcelona player Gerard Lopez gave a completely different verdict during the same debate.
He described Vinicius’ action as:
“Ugly, dirty and treacherous.”
Lopez argued that the red card was clear and that there should be little debate over the referee’s decision.
The two opinions show how divided the discussion around Vinicius has become.
Pressure remains on Vinicius
Valdano’s defence does not change the disciplinary situation facing the Real Madrid forward.
Vinicius was officially sent off for violent conduct and could still receive a multi-game suspension.
There are also questions over his behaviour after the red card.
The referee’s report said Vinicius protested strongly after the decision, while new footage later appeared to show him pushing a LaLiga employee near the VAR area.
The final punishment has not yet been officially confirmed.
Real Madrid legend offers rare support
Vinicius has received heavy criticism since the Villarreal match.
Several journalists and former players have questioned his emotional control and decision-making.
That makes Valdano’s comments stand out even more.
While many have focused on the seriousness of the action, Valdano has chosen to defend the Brazilian’s intention and argue that the incident was instinctive rather than malicious.
Debate over Vinicius continues
The red card has become one of the biggest talking points in Spanish football.
Some believe Vinicius clearly crossed the line and deserved the punishment.
Others, including Valdano, believe the incident should be judged with more context.
For now, one thing is clear: the Real Madrid legend does not believe Vinicius deliberately tried to play dirty, even if he accepts that the action itself was against the rules.
