Brazilian-Cameroonian star Vinicius Junior sparks Levante captain’s fury in Real Madrid victory

Levante captain Unai Elgezabal has expressed frustration over Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior’s conduct during his side’s 4-1 defeat on Saturday night.

The Real attacker not only scored but also left Elgezabal incensed after an incident in the second half which overshadowed an otherwise routine win for Los Blancos.

Vinicius Jr, born in Brazil to a family with Cameroonian roots, was at the centre of controversy when he physically confronted Elgezabal just as Kylian Mbappé stepped up to convert Madrid’s 64th-minute penalty.

The move, caught by television cameras, prompted heated reactions inside the Ciutat de València Stadium and post-match criticism from Levante’s skipper.

“I don’t want to fuel the controversy further,” Elgezabal told reporters after the final whistle.

“It’s true that when we show disrespect, not just to ourselves but also to the fans, we have to say enough. He’s a player with enormous potential, but there are situations that affect us personally.

“I think it was inappropriate, and I don’t want to give him more importance than he deserves, because it’s unnecessary.”

Despite the setback, Elgezabal praised his teammates’ effort in front of their home crowd.

“We’re not satisfied, because no one likes to lose. We knew it would be a difficult match, but we really wanted to compete, regardless of the opponent, and we wanted to prove ourselves at home. Now we have to turn the page, try to improve and clear our minds.”