San Francisco Frontiers - Vinicius 'should be loved by everyone' says Donnarumma after celebration row

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Vinicius 'should be loved by everyone' says Donnarumma after celebration row

SPORTS 18.03.2026

Vinicius 'should be loved by everyone' says Donnarumma after celebration row / Photo: © AFP

Gianluigi Donnarumma has questioned why Vinicius Junior celebrated his goals at Manchester City on Tuesday in front of the home support, saying a player of his calibre "should be loved by everyone".

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The Brazilian struck twice as Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory at the Etihad, completing a convincing 5-1 aggregate win as the record 15-times European champions secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

His initial penalty was celebrated with a mock-crying gesture –- an apparent reference to a banner City fans displayed during Real's February visit reading 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out'.

That in turn was a jibe at Vinicius' perceived disappointment at losing out to City star Rodri for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

But it was the celebration for his stoppage-time second goal that really seemed to annoy Donnarumma, with the City goalkeeper approaching Vinicius as he stood in front of home fans pointing to the name on his shirt.

Donnarumma, asked about the incident afterwards, said: "He's a champion and should be loved by everyone. I told him that.

"He's played two great games, but I think someone like him should be loved by everyone. He should try to make everyone love him because he's a champion."

City played most of the game with 10 men after captain Bernardo Silva was sent off for deliberately handling a Vinicius shot.

Erling Haaland was on target as City racked up 22 shots, but a comeback triumph never looked truly likely and they only have a few days to restore their morale ahead of Sunday’s League Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley.

"I think the sending-off was decisive, but football is like that, made up of incidents, especially in the Champions League," said Donnarumma.

"I'm proud of my team-mates, we played a great match and with 11 against 11 it would have been different."

G.Miller--SFF

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