Carlo Ancelotti has defended Vinicius Junior after he faced criticism from Sunday’s opponents Mallorca, with captain Antonio Raillo saying the Real Madrid forward was not a suitable role model for children.
Vinicius clashed with Mallorca players and staff when the two teams met in September, and Raillo said this week: “If I had to pick a role model for my child, I’d pick [Luka] Modric or [Karim] Benzema, but never him.”
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Madrid go into Sunday’s game second in LaLiga — five points behind leaders Barcelona — while Mallorca are 10th after an impressive first half of the season.
“For me, [Vinicius] is a great player,” Ancelotti said in a news conference on Saturday. “My grandchildren are all Vinicius fans. Kids like players with so much quality, who are spectacular on the ball.
“I have four grandchildren, they all have Vinicius shirts and they don’t want any other.”
Vinicius scored in Madrid’s 4-1 win over Mallorca at the Bernabeu on Sept. 11.
