As Real Madrid arrived at the Etihad Stadium for their highly anticipated clash with Manchester City, one striking detail in the tunnel immediately caught attention.
As Vinícius Júnior walked through, his eyes were drawn to a massive image of Rodri, proudly posing with his Ballon d’Or. The placement of the image, right along the path to the dressing rooms, served as a bold reminder of City’s dominance and their midfield maestro’s achievements.
Whether intentional or not, the sight of Rodri’s image could have been a subtle psychological tactic, setting the tone for a high-stakes encounter between the two European giants.
That kind of tribute usually belongs in a club museum, which raises the question—was this just decoration, or a calculated move to get inside Vinícius Júnior’s head?
After all, the English media and fans know how much the Ballon d’Or snub affected him. Many Madridistas still believe Vini was unfairly overlooked, and seeing Rodri’s image in the tunnel could have been a subtle dig at the Brazilian star.
Madrid fans aren’t taking it lightly. They want Vini to respond on the pitch:
🗣 “Vini, we need a brace tonight.”
🗣 “Time for payback, man.”
Even Cristiano Ronaldo weighed in on the Ballon d’Or debate, claiming Vinícius Jr deserved the award over Lionel Messi and Rodri.
The stage is set for an intense battle. Will Vini use this as fuel for revenge?
