(foto: Uradni Twitter profil kluba/zveze)
Neymar responded to Rodri's remarks about Vinicius Jr, calling the Manchester City star a "talker" amid ongoing tensions surrounding the Ballon d'Or.
Neymar has leapt to the defense of his compatriot Vinicius Jr after Manchester City's Rodri advised the Real Madrid winger to "pay attention" to improve as a footballer. The comment has sparked a heated exchange between the two sides.
Rodri, who recently won the 2024 Ballon d'Or, spoke about Vinicius Jr's potential for growth both on and off the pitch. In a statement, he said: "I think he's an intelligent guy and he'll realise over time that the more he pays attention to the pitch, the better he'll be. Like everyone, he has areas for improvement both on and off the pitch." Rodri also noted that Real Madrid's values would help guide the 23-year-old Brazilian.
In a sharp Instagram retort, Neymar, currently playing for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, called Rodri a "talker." This remark appears to be a direct criticism of Rodri’s comments and a show of solidarity with Vinicius Jr, who has been under the spotlight following his runner-up finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
Tensions surrounding this year’s Ballon d’Or have been high. Reports suggest that Madrid opted to boycott the Paris ceremony after learning Vinicius wouldn’t win the award. Rodri’s latest comments have seemingly reignited the friction between Madrid supporters and City fans.
As Rodri continues recovering from a season-ending knee injury, Vinicius Jr shifts his focus to Real Madrid’s upcoming La Liga match against Leganes on Sunday. Despite the distractions, the winger will aim to make an impact as Madrid pushes to maintain its strong league form.