Vinicius clarifies the truth after his controversial celebration against Man City

Vinicius Junior explained that his "crying" gesture celebration following his goal in Real Madrid's 2-1 win against Manchester City was meant to counter the "stop crying your heart out" banner previously shown by Man City supporters.

The Brazilian star scored twice in the second leg of the quarter-finals, opening the scoring with a penalty in the 22nd minute and sealing the victory with a goal in stoppage time, helping Real Madrid secure a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals with an aggregate score of 5-1.

When the two teams met in February 2025, Man City fans displayed a banner featuring midfielder Rodri holding the Golden Ball award, which he won ahead of Vinicius. After missing a penalty in the first leg last week, Vinicius deceived goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma with his penalty shot in this match. Subsequently, he celebrated by posing, leaning against the corner flag, and performing a prolonged "crying" gesture with both hands.

Vinicius told Movistar after the match: "Football is like that; there's always another opportunity. We won here and advanced to the quarter-finals." The television cameras also captured Vinicius making the "4-0" gesture towards the Etihad Stadium stands, referencing Real Madrid's aggregate advantage at that moment.

The Brazilian player had an energetic performance, with one goal disallowed in the second half. He attempted a total of 7 shots, 3 of which were on target, and his expected goals (xG) reached 2.58. Vinicius added: "This was a very important match for our confidence. Since the start of the season, we've had good games but haven't always controlled them as well as in this matchup. We clearly understand what needs to be done: work hard and seize opportunities, even though I missed quite a few!"

After defeating Man City, Vinicius emphasized that the Champions League is always Real Madrid's "stage": "That was a crucial moment. All the players understand that big matches are coming. When Real Madrid plays in this competition, everything changes, from the fans to the players, and we are ready for the upcoming challenges."

After the match, Vinicius also revealed a brief conversation with coach Pep Guardiola: "He simply congratulated me." Simultaneously, he affirmed that Real Madrid would not fear facing Bayern in the quarter-finals: "We will fight against them."

Vinicius's recent form indicates he has returned to his peak level. His consecutive goals demonstrate his confidence and joy in playing. For Man City fans, they once again witnessed the player they once mocked become the one who brought sorrow.