A television commentator is on a sports show, with an image of a soccer match in the upper left corner.
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Balboa's Unexpected Reaction to Vinícius's Stunning Goal, His Gesture Doesn't Go Unnoticed

The panelist from 'El Chiringuito de Jugones' is always very alert to the performance of the '7' in white.

Real Madrid was playing for the chance to regain the leadership of LaLiga after several matches with poor results. The victory against Rayo Vallecano, although by a narrow margin, has achieved that goal just before the return leg of the Champions League round of 16. Carlo Ancelotti's players, once again, rely on their top-performing teammates.

As is often the case, one of the standout names is Vinícius Jr. The Real Madrid footballer is fully focused on doing the best possible job to recover all the ground lost during the first months of the current season. The most important matches of the current soccer season are approaching, and the São Gonçalo striker knows they trust him.

A player in a white uniform celebrating on the field.
Vinícius Jr. during a Real Madrid match this season | Real Madrid Confidencial

That's why he left a stunning goal against Rayo Vallecano. The individual play, in which he dribbled past five footballers before beating Batalla with a shot to the near post, is one of the goals of the matchday. As expected, Madridists celebrated it with great enthusiasm because it provided calmness in a match where there was a lot at stake.

The reaction of Javi Balboa, also a Madridist panelist on 'El Chiringuito de Jugones', left no one indifferent. The connection between the former Real Madrid midfielder and the current '7' in white has not always been very strong, as Balboa has never hidden his criticisms of Vinícius. Especially with the issue of racism, a really thorny subject in Spanish sports.

A Lot of Analysis

Be that as it may, Javi Balboa also celebrated Vinícius's goal. After the verdeamarelo striker scored Real Madrid's second goal, the former white player broke into applause. After several seconds acknowledging Vinícius's good work, the panelist wondered if "he didn't touch anyone", referring to the shot that finally went into Rayo's goal.

While Alfredo Duro continued narrating the match, recalling the forward's goal, Javi Balboa made it clear that it was "exaggerated how he got past everyone". Besides timid comments with Fernando Sanz about the play, Javi Balboa offered no further reaction to Vinícius Jr.'s goal.

A player in an orange Real Madrid uniform on the field.
Vinícius Jr. wearing the captain's armband at Reale Arena | Real Madrid Confidencial

The measured handling of Javi Balboa regarding the stunning goal scored by Vinícius has sparked all kinds of comments for and against the former Real Madrid footballer. Because not many see him as a Real Madrid fan, especially due to the discrepancies he has always had regarding Vinícius's figure.

But Fernando Sanz, whose Madridist sentiment has never been questioned, offered a similar reaction to the goals of Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. himself. That's why both panelists will always defend the white club on the program directed and presented by Josep Pedrerol.

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