During the closing stages of Atlético Madrid’s 3–1 victory over Levante on Saturday, a match in which Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior played absolutely no part, the Brazilian winger still found his way onto the lips of Diego Simeone.
Atléti’s enduringly versatile Marcos Llorente was booked in 87th minute after a sharp exchange of words with referee Jesús Gil Manzano. The game had long since been won and the yellow card would have no bearing on Llorente’s immediate future yet Simeone still took issue with the match official.
“Hey, what are you calling there, calm down,” the combustible Argentine shouted from the touchline, as quoted by broadcasters , a vision of exasperation in all black. “A yellow card for ? You don’t book Vinicius [for that].”
Real Madrid’s No. 7 has an unwanted reputation for ongoing dialogues with referees. Yet, Simeone’s claim that Vinicius would not have been booked by Gil Manzano frankly doesn’t stack up against the numbers.
