The reason for Kyle Walker’s affectionate embrace with Vinicius Junior following the first leg of Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid has been revealed.
The Spanish powerhouses will be Man City’s opponents at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg. The English right-back and Vinicius engaged in a contentious scrap on the right flank.
With the tie finely poised at one-all, both Walker and Vinicius will be expected to put up splendid performances to push their respective clubs over the line in their pursuit of European glory.
Ahead of Wednesday’s second-leg clash, the Sheffield-born defender lifted the lid on what motivated him to embrace the Madrid winger.
According to the 32-year-old, he cautioned Vini not to make a meme out of him, after the Brazilian tried an audacious rainbow flick in an attempt to outwit the former Tottenham Hotspur full-back in the first leg.
“I went to hug Vinícius because he tried to rainbow-flick me. It was more to say, ‘Don’t do that again’ because I don’t want to be a meme,” he said, as quoted by Madrid Zone.
Aside from his light-hearted caution to the zippy winger, Walker expressed his utmost respect to Vinicius, per Evening Standard.
“Boxers have a battle and shake hands after. You give the level of respect because they deserve it.
Carrying a massive club over the line in the Champions League, you show your respect. Tomorrow night, I’ll give him the respect he deserves at full-time, but before that, it’s dog-eat-dog.”
Vini attempts audacious rainbow flick
The Brazilian put on another impeccable show in the UCL with a fine display against Manchester City, Sports Brief reported.
Vinicius even attempted a rainbow flick, but the Citizens defender, Kyle Walker was alert to him and stopped his effort.
Vini’s strengths, like Kylian Mbappe’s, are his pace and mazy feet with the player improving his finishing and pass success.
Walker names toughest-ever opponents
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Walker named the three toughest players he has ever come up against, with his choices raising some eyebrows.
The England international recently named the attackers that still gave him nightmares, with his list including former Liverpool star, Sadio Mane.
Walker also admitted he was torn between picking Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Paris Saint-Germain superstar, Mbappe as the more difficult.
