Jurgen Klopp left baffled by question suggesting Vinicius Junior brings racist abuse on himself

Jurgen Klopp has branded any suggestion that the racist abuse suffered by Vincius Junior in Spain and beyond is the player’s fault as “completely insane” ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Real Madrid.

Vinicus, 22, has been the victim of sickening abuse during his time in Spain with Real Madrid.

Before Real Madrid’s clash with rival Atlético earlier this season, home fans hung an effigy of the Brazilian from a bridge.

Sections of the crowd were also reported to have come from racist chants and taunts, while videos were seen outside the ground showing supporters chanting “Vinicius, you’re a monkey”.

LaLiga has so far presented six legal cases related to the abuse of the striker. The player has been subjected to abuse, many of them racist, at Atlético de Madrid, Mallorca, Osasuna, Barcelona and Real Valladolid.

The Brazilian striker has been the victim of almost constant abuse, many of them racist, this term.

Jurgen Klopp was taken aback by the suggestion that Vinicius’ abuse could be his fault.

The abuse in Osasuna this month occurred during a minute’s silence, while Mallorca player Antonio Raillo accused him of using racism as a ‘trump card’ when he was called a ‘provocateur’.

With the subject of national news in the Spanish press after weeks and months of insults directed at Vinicius, Klopp was asked whether or not he felt that the Brazilian was not helped by his antics on the pitch.

‘That you are doing something in the field that could cause [this abuse]?’ he asked back, looking puzzled.

There is nothing in the world that justifies that. Whatever he’s doing in the field, I don’t know, but it wouldn’t be nothing, no.

‘Imagine he would say yes, that this part of his game could cause this? No, that would be complete madness. No, nothing.

“As far as I know, he’s a world-class player … and you shouldn’t leave him in one or solo situations a lot.”

Referencing Vinicius’s instrumental role in Real Madrid’s win over Liverpool in last season’s final, when he scored the only goal as the Spanish giants claimed their 14th Champions League triumph, Klopp said he was unfazed by the occasion and showed his talent.

‘He was there that night, at a very young age, [not] upset with the way the game went, that they weren’t always dominant and things like that, and he was there at the decisive moment,” the Liverpool manager said.

I’m pretty sure that already makes him a Real Madrid legend at a very, very young age and I hope no idiot bothers him and says something about him.

But I’m hearing it now for the first time. I don’t read this kind of stuff, to be honest.

Last week, the Spanish media asked Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s coach, a similar question before their clash with Osasuna.

The player was abused during the minute of silence in Osasuna over the weekend

Vinicius scored the only goal in last season’s Champions League final to win Real Madrid’s 14th crown

‘Is Vinicius the problem?’ replied Ancelotti. The problem is not Vinicius, it is what happens around Vinicius. Period.’

Amid reports earlier this month that Vinicius was becoming increasingly affected by abuse and mistreatment from opposition supporters and players, Ancelotti also defended the player. He said that the abuse was a “Spanish football problem” that had to be stopped.

‘The question is: what is the problem? Vinicius or his teammates? What does Vinicius have to defend himself against? Here it seems that Vinicius is the problem. The problem is what is happening around Vinicius, that’s all’, said Ancelotti.

“It is a problem of Spanish football, and as part of Spanish football I think it is a problem that we have to solve. He feels like he’s guilty, but he’s the victim of something I don’t understand.