Transcript: Álvaro Arbeloa Backs Vinicius Jr. Ahead of Real Madrid vs Osasuna

Pamplona—Real Madrid interim coach Álvaro Arbeloa used his pre-match press conference at El Sadar to deliver an unequivocal show of support for Vinicius Jr., declaring that the winger’s decision to continue playing after suffering racist abuse in mid-week “makes me prouder than any title.”

Madrid face an Osasuna side that has not lost at home in two months and is unbeaten in its last five league outings, yet the build-up has been dominated by the fallout from Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Benfica, when Vinicius was targeted by discriminatory chants.

“Vini Jr. has been upset, as have we all,” Arbeloa told reporters. “Above all, he has been very outraged by what happened. It’s a racist act that has no place in sports or our society. We have a tremendous opportunity not to let it pass and to continue fighting against this scourge that is racism.”

Arbeloa confirmed that the entire squad would have followed the Brazilian off the field had he chosen to abandon the match, and praised the 24-year-old for shouldering the responsibility of carrying on. “It takes a lot of courage and bravery to return to play as he did. We will be by his side, defending him and standing with him without hesitation.”

The former Spain full-back refused to accept any justification for the abuse, rejecting suggestions that Vinicius’s goal celebration had provoked opposition fans. “Nothing Vini does on a football pitch justifies a racist act. We can’t portray the victim as the provocateur.”

UEFA, Arbeloa insisted, must now seize the moment. “They have a perfect opportunity to show that this fight is not just words, to punish an act like the one we saw and to ensure it never happens again.”

On footballing matters, Arbeloa offered a positive update on Kylian Mbappé’s knee complaint—“he’s feeling better every day”—but admitted Jude Bellingham’s continued absence is a major blow. “If I could give an arm for him to be healthy tomorrow, I would do it without thinking. His absence is very significant, yet the fact we can still compete speaks well of our squad.”

With five fit central defenders at his disposal and Éder Militão closing in on a return, Arbeloa stressed that rotation will be essential during a congested schedule, but emphasised that tomorrow’s objective is singular: “We’re all in for the three points.”

Kick-off against an in-form Osasuna is set for Saturday evening, with Madrid aiming to open a provisional five-point gap over Barcelona before their rivals face Levante on Sunday.

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