Catapult Vinicius: “The luck of a successful black Brazilian in Europe is worrying”

“If you want to dance samba, you go to the Sambadrome, here you have to respect your colleagues and stop acting like a monkey”, were the words of Pedro Bravo, President of the Spanish Football Managers’ Federation, about Vinicius.

Bravo’s racist comment spread quickly, with many athletes and football legends rushing to support the Brazilian striker, while Real announced in a statement that they would take legal action.

Vinicius claimed responsibility for the ugly incident and with a VIDEO he posted on his social media accounts, he spoke out against racism and xenophobia, stressing that he will not stop fighting these two scourges.

“As long as the color of the skin is more important than the brightness of the eyes, there will be war.” I have this phrase tattooed on my body. I keep this thought in my head all the time. I try to implement this attitude and philosophy in my life.

It is said that happiness interferes. The luck of one successful of a black Brazilian in Europe is much more disturbing.

But my will to win, my smile and the sparkle in my eyes are much greater. You can not imagine.

I became a victim of xenophobia and racism with a single statement. However, none of this started yesterday. Weeks ago they started criminalizing my dances.

Dances that aren’t mine. They belong to Ronaldinho, Neymar, Paquetas, Griezmann, Joao Felix, Mateusz Cunha, they belong to Brazilian funk and samba artists, reggaeton singers and black Americans.

They are dances to celebrate the cultural diversity of the world. Accept it, respect it. I will not stop.

I come from a country where poverty is very high, people have no access to education and in many cases there is no food on the table!

I don’t normally respond publicly to counter-criticism. They attack me and I don’t talk. They praise me and I don’t even talk. I am working! I work a lot.

On and off the pitch. I am trying to help teach children in public schools without any financial support from anyone. I’m building a school with my name. I will do much more for education. I want future generations like me to be prepared to fight against racists and xenophobia.

I always strive to be a professional and exemplary citizen. But that doesn’t click, it’s not an online trend, it doesn’t motivate cowards to talk aggressively about people they don’t even know.

The script always ends with an apology and “I was misunderstood”. But I repeat it for you, racist: “I won’t stop dancing. Whether in the Sambadrome, in the Bernabeu or anywhere else.

With love and smiles from someone who is very happy,

Vini jr”.