Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said “nothing in the world can justify” the treatment of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior following a number of recent incidents of the player being subjected to racist chants and insults in Spain.
The Brazil international will face Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday in the first-leg of Madrid’s Champions League round-of-16 tie aiming to extend his record of scoring three goals in three games against Klopp’s team.
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Having scored the only goal in Madrid’s 1-0 Champions League final win against Liverpool in Paris, Klopp said he is fully aware of the threat the 22-year-old poses to his side’s hopes of reaching the quarterfinals.
Vinicius has been subject to racist abuse on several occasions this season, most recently from fan chanting against Mallorca earlier this month, as well a mannequin wearing the player’s shirt being hung from a bridge outside Madrid’s training ground in January.
However, Klopp rejected any suggestion the player might have prompted his targeting of racist abuse with what a questioner at his news conference described as “provocative” actions on the pitch.
“What is the question? That he [Vinicius] is doing something on the pitch that could cause it?” Klopp said. “There is nothing in the world that could justify that.
“Imagine if I say yes? That would be completely insane.”
