Villarreal veteran Dani Parejo on Vinicius Junior – “People call me drunk, I don't confront everyone”
Villarreal veteran Dani Parejo has become the latest footballer to criticize Vinicius Junior's attitude on the pitch, after being asked about the Brazilian.
The 34-year-old wrote a contract extension with the Yellow Submarine earlier this week, extending his stay with them through 2026. Parejo commented to Cadena SER, via AS Diarywho was keen to continue playing in Spain, and saw little appeal in going to Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, he described Alvaro Morata's whistle from the Santiago Bernabeu while in Spain as “uncomfortable and unpleasant”.
“I don't know what happens in other countries, but in Spain many times the coach gives the team and when he doesn't call the players who play for his teams, people start saying: “Spain, let them lose, I. 'I'm not going to watch the game.' '. Spain, for me, is the biggest thing there is and always, whether you agree or not with these decisions, I think you should cheer for your country, whatever game you play.
He was also asked about Vinicius Junior. The game was played in part to address the fight against racism, and he held a tearful press conference before the game. He was involved in several scuffles during the game with Spain players, however, including Aymeric Laporte, Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal.
“I think he is an extraordinary player, spectacular, with spectacular qualities. I have not seen in the scenario to be an important player in the best team in the world and have all the praise. But I think that we players have to dedicate ourselves to play” .
“There will be clashes in every game. It seems that he is present in all of them, it is something to learn that must work. When you play for Madrid, there is always a special atmosphere, you always get into it with the players, people are always looking for of wind. But I also went to the grounds here and they called me drunk or what, and I did not place people or make gestures. It is not necessary. The footballer must be above these situations. In some behaviors, he makes a mistake “.
Parejo, formerly of Real Madrid, did not suffer from abuse himself during the course of his career. However, a number of figures in Spain have failed to make the distinction between an insult and racism. Equally, the conversation has often been put in a binary of Vinicius's behavior and how he reacts to racism, when the two are linked but not necessarily the same thing.
