Pablo Maffeo and Vinicius will come face to face when Mallorca take on Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup on January 9.
With just a few days left before Real Madrid and Real Mallorca face each other in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup on January 9 (3:00 PM ET), one of the most heated rivalries in recent years is about to to flare up again. Sparks fly every time Pablo Maffeo and Vinicius Junior meet on the pitch.
In a chat on the Indómitos TV podcast, Maffeo talked about Vinicius and even jokingly challenged him to a fight. “In an alternate world, in a fictional life, I think this could be the most watched fight in history. I believe I would win, no doubt about it, I would knock him out in 10 seconds.
Mallorca's Maffeo tries to “get under Vinicius' skin”
Maffeo also shared his strategy for dealing with the Brazilian star: “I'm trying to get under his skin to see if I can take him out of his game. The rivalry remains on the field, but I enjoy it.”
The defender recalled previous encounters: “The tackle I performed on him in the 2021/2022 season was a clear red card. My foot went up and it was absolutely red. There is no justification, I was lucky. I still get photos sent of my leg on his knee.”
“The one from a few months ago was not a red card. I was lucky that the fourth official was close by and saw the intensity. I went for the ball and stepped on him, but it wasn't red,” he insisted.
“Spain is not a racist country, but it is clear that there are a few idiots everywhere. It affects Vinicius, of course, it is not pleasant. If I went to Africa and they called me a 'white piece of shit', that would affect me too. It affects him, it is very wrong, and it must be condemned. I don't think he invites insults. He makes mistakes like we all do, like the way he talks to players or referees, but I don't think he plays the race card,” Maffeo concluded.
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