Real Madrid star, Vinicius Junior, vowed to return to his former club “one day” while attending the Flamengo-Vasco da Gama derby at the Maracana.
The Brazil forward has flown to Rio to take a few days’ break from football after completing the European season with Real Madrid.
He was in attendance at the Maracana, where his former team Flamengo thrashed Vasco 4-1 in a derby clash.
During half-time, the forward took the pitch and was honoured by both teams with a jersey with his name and number printed on the back.
“It’ll take a while, but I will be back one day (to Flamengo). Very happy to be here at Maracana, at Flamengo and at a classic.
“Very happy for everything they did for me. That I can stand firm to continue the fight for those to come,” he said.
Read more: Liverpool To Sign Alexis Mac Allister On Five-Year Deal
Flamengo and Cruzeiro showed their solidarity by sitting down for the first 36 seconds of their Serie A match in the final week of May after coming out of the tunnel wearing t-shirts with a message against racism in response to Vinicius receiving racial abuse in Spain during Real Madrid’s 1-0 loss at Valencia.
To demonstrate support for him, Flamengo players wore their jerseys with the phrase “All with Vinicius Jr.” emblazoned on them the entire time.