Real Madrid teammates Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior have cleared the air and moved on from a dispute in Tuesday night’s Champions League draw at Borussia Monchengladbach.
As per Marca, the two attacking partners held talks at the club’s training facilities in the days that followed to discuss the situation and both are now said to have made up, with the understanding that things were said in anger and in the heat of the game.
Benzema is said to have approached Vinicius and explained why he said what he did and offered a full apology and claimed that he saw no bad feelings between them going forward, which the Brazilian accepted.
It is maintained that the two share a strong and healthy working relationship and indeed, both are friendly away from games.
Benzema was filmed at half time by Telefoot – in a report carried by Marca – telling Madrid left-back Ferland Mendy not to pass the ball to the Brazilian forward, so bad was his way of playing.
Benzema told Mendy: “He (Vinicius) does what he wants. Brother, don’t play with him…oh my God. He is playing against us.”
Marca then reported how Gol TV have captured more of the conversation between Benzema and Mendy before the second half, in which the striker added: “He (Vinicius) does not do anything meaningful.”
Mendy is then quoted as saying in response: “When he becomes scared, he loses what makes him great.”
The three players were then shown on the pitch after the break, but before the second half kicked off, talking and gesturing to each other but the comments were not audible.
Data from the second half of the encounter in Germany shows Mendy passed the ball to Vinicius three times in the second half, with the Brazilian passing back to the full-back three times.
Madrid fought back from two goals down in the 87th minute to draw 2-2.
Image via Marca
