Madrid's silence over Vinicius incident leaves pundits baffled
Roberto Gómez criticizes Real Madrid's lack of official response following the Vinicius Jr incident, while praising Mbappé's stance and questioning leadership on the pitch.
Spanish pundit Roberto Gómez has called for Real Madrid to release an urgent statement regarding the Vinicius Jr incident during their recent Champions League match.
Club’s silence raises eyebrows
In a conversation with Raúl Varela on Radio Marca’s ‘La Tribu’ program, Gómez expressed his surprise at the lack of institutional response from Los Blancos following the events involving their Brazilian star.
“I’m missing an official statement from Real Madrid,” Gómez remarked, noting that the club has previously been vocal when facing delicate situations. The radio personality believes the current circumstances demand a clear response after what transpired both on the pitch and in subsequent reactions.
Mbappé steps up while club stays quiet
Gómez did praise Kylian Mbappé for being the only Madrid player to publicly address the situation:
- The Frenchman’s response was described as “sensational” and “forceful”
- However, Gómez insisted this doesn’t replace the need for an official club position
- He speculated Madrid might be working behind the scenes with UEFA or waiting for the governing body to take steps first
The pundit expressed confusion over the club’s approach, pointing out that Madrid has issued statements for “many situations” in the past that were arguably less significant.
Leadership questioned in the moment
Gómez was particularly critical of how the situation was handled during the match itself. He argued that Vinicius shouldn’t have been left to make decisions himself given the pressure he was under.
In a direct swipe at former Madrid player Álvaro Arbeloa, Gómez declared: “Arbeloa, you’re a Real Madrid leader and the first thing you must do is defend your players.” He called for greater authority and less hesitation during tense moments.
Beyond the Vinicius incident
The conversation also touched on other hot topics:
- Gómez firmly shut down speculation about José Mourinho returning to the Bernabéu
- He described Barcelona president Joan Laporta as “clever” for using the current climate to criticize referees without fear of repercussions
- The broader leadership situation in Spanish football was discussed
The central message remained clear – in a moment of maximum media exposure, Gómez believes Real Madrid should have stepped forward rather than allowing others to control the narrative, especially when one of their star players is at the center of controversy.