Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has told Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr to 'make everyone love him' following his controversial celebration during the Champions League clash at the Etihad Stadium. Vinicius scored twice for the Spanish giants, including a 93rd-minute penalty, to secure a 3-0 win on the night and a 5-1 aggregate victory that sent Real Madrid into the quarter-finals.
After netting the penalty, Vinicius stood in front of the home fans and pointed to the name on his shirt—a gesture that did not sit well with Donnarumma. The goalkeeper approached the Brazilian and later explained his reasoning: 'He's a champion and should be loved by everyone. I told him that. He's played two great games, but I think someone like him should be loved by everyone. He should try to make everyone love him because he's a champion.'
Vinicius, however, defended his celebration, stating: 'The last time we came here, the Manchester City fans were making fun of me. I wasn't disrespecting City fans but it was a way for me to prove myself to them.' The 25-year-old now has four goals and five assists against City in his career. Meanwhile, City's defeat leaves them nine points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race, with only the Carabao Cup remaining as realistic silverware.
Donnarumma acknowledged the difficulty of the defeat but urged his team to focus on the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. 'I think the sending-off was decisive, but football is like that. The disappointment is huge, but we have to get back on our feet because on Sunday we now have the Carabao Cup to bring home,' he added. He also referenced the need to help Italy return to the World Cup, showing his commitment to national duty.
