With LaLiga president Javier Tebas having been involved in a public spat with Vinicius Junior earlier this week, the Spanish chief has now made something of a U-turn on the Brazilian sensation.
Tebas has now showered Vinicius with compliments after he initially appeared to partly blame the player for the appalling racist attacks he has suffered over the past few months in Spain.
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Their public spat came after the winger took to social media to express his frustration with the league's failure to impose more protective measures against racism, and also suggested that Spain and LaLiga "belong to racists", following yet more disgusting chants aimed at him in a match against Valencia last Sunday.
Tebas promptly responded and suggested that Vinicius was also partially responsible for the poor treatment he has received, stating that the player was invited to multiple meetings with LaLiga to tackle the issue but failed to pitch up.
The social media squabble painted the league chief in a largely negative light, with hundreds of people taking to the streets in Brazil to protest against the abuse Vinicius has been subjected to in the European country.
Tebas, though, now seems to have put the issue behind him, having apologised for how his words came across and seemingly gushing over Vinicius' quality, even claiming that Selecao winger could go on to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or award in the future.
"When he fully joined the first team [at Real Madrid], I remember that Messi had just departed [from FC Barcelona], and they asked me who could replace him as the best player [in LaLiga]," the executive said in a press conference, according to Relevo.
"I answered Vinicius, because he is a different player, with a playing style that is not so typical.
"After that, I have always highlighted Vinicius [as a great player]. I have even been accused of being Madridismo for it. I said I was convinced that Vinicius is going to win the Ballon d'Or in the future.
"I think he is a very important asset, first for his club, and also for Spanish football, as he has already shown."
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Tebas also revealed that he supports the idea of imposing points deductions on teams whose fans are found responsible for heckling opposition players using racial slurs.
"Would it be a good idea for us to start thinking about the system [of docking points]? I do think so," he said of a measure adopted recently in Brazilian football.
"Yes, certainly. I think that it would be very positive if it could be adopted here. I think that would be enough, with a view to the future.
"But with the current sanctions framework we have here, we don't have the ability to apply it ourselves."
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