Vini Jr shrugs off penalty jibe: “Kylian takes them” — Clasico mind games and Madrid’s spot-kick hierarchy

A pitchside exchange between Barcelona’s Ferran Torres and Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior has gone viral after lip-read audio appeared to capture Torres teasing, “You don’t take penalties anymore?” Vini Jr replied, “I don’t care, Kylian takes them,” signaling Kylian Mbappé’s primacy from the spot at Madrid. The moment, filmed after a heated clash, underlines Clasico-era mind games and a clear penalty pecking order at Los Blancos. While some fans called it bait, others saw calm defiance from Vini. Either way, the message is simple: Real Madrid trust Mbappé on penalties, and Vini isn’t losing sleep over it.

Broadcast cameras and pitchside microphones from the Spanish football program “El Día Después” captured a brief exchange between Ferran Torres and Vinícius Júnior following a high-intensity match between Barcelona and Real Madrid. The clip, recorded near the touchline as players exited the field, features a teasing remark from Torres about penalties and a composed reply from Vini, acknowledging Kylian Mbappé as Real Madrid’s current designated taker.

🚨 Ferran Torres to Vini Jr: “You don’t take penalties anymore?” Vini Jr. replies: “I don’t care, Kylian takes them.” @ElDiaDespues

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

The exchange, while brief, carries significant competitive and psychological undertones. First, it confirms what recent match patterns already suggested: Kylian Mbappé has assumed primary penalty duties at Real Madrid. From a tactical standpoint, this is logical. Mbappé’s conversion rate, composure in high-leverage moments, and status as the squad’s marquee finisher make him the optimal choice. For Vinícius Júnior, publicly acknowledging that hierarchy is a show of maturity and role clarity rather than submission. His influence remains anchored in ball progression, chance creation, and drawing defensive collapses—attributes complementary to Mbappé’s penalty-box efficiency.

Psychologically, Ferran Torres’ quip is classic Clasico brinkmanship—micro-needling designed to disrupt a rival’s rhythm. Yet Vini’s dismissive reply (“I don’t care”) projects emotional control, the exact counter Barcelona wouldn’t want. Internally at Madrid, a clear set-piece chain of command reduces ambiguity and diffuses narratives about ego. Externally, opponents now know the likely taker, but that transparency rarely diminishes effectiveness; it often elevates it when the executor is elite.

Commercially and reputationally, the clip also reinforces Mbappé’s leadership arc at the Bernabéu while protecting Vini’s brand as a fierce competitor who doesn’t hinge his status on penalties. For Barça, Torres’ line still serves its purpose: even an unanswered dart can spark debate, potentially shifting media focus ahead of the next Clasico. Net impact: Madrid’s hierarchy looks settled, and Vini’s stock as a team-first star arguably rises.

Reaction

Fan reaction split along familiar lines. One strand dismissed the clip as “top-tier rage bait,” arguing the tease was designed purely to farm engagement and rile Madrid supporters rather than reveal anything substantive. Another group questioned the accuracy of the exchange, suggesting the lines were misheard or selectively edited, a common refrain whenever lip-read moments go viral. Yet many Madrid fans praised Vini’s composure, insisting Barcelona resorted to verbal jabs after failing to gain a foothold on the pitch: “When they couldn’t do anything on the pitch, they tried getting under Vini’s skin.”

There was also a narrative that Mbappé’s arrival has overshadowed Vini in marquee games, with detractors claiming the Brazilian is “pained” by the shift. Madridistas largely rejected that framing, pointing to Vini’s ball-carrying value and his willingness to let Mbappé assume penalties as evidence of a balanced hierarchy, not a bruised ego. Some neutrals framed the scene as the latest chapter in Clasico theater—edgy, petty, and irresistible. As with most viral football snippets, the discourse ranged from playful banter to pointed digs, with a sprinkle of off-topic spam that inevitably trails high-traffic posts.

Social reactions

Mid player trying to rattle a club legend 😭 tears

✞ (@rmadonnn)

And he trusts Mbappe.👌

Daddy Tomtom👀 (@misa_sallama)

And kylian Mbappe missed Weirdo 😂😂😂

TheMadridThanos (@Thanostrillions)

Prediction

Expect Madrid to lean into clarity rather than controversy. Carlo Ancelotti will keep Mbappé as the primary penalty taker, with Vini and a senior midfielder (often Luka Modrić or Jude Bellingham, depending on availability and match state) next in line. Publicly, Madrid’s messaging will emphasize unity—spot-kicks as a team asset, not an ego contest—while letting the football speak. Vini’s response hints he’s fully aligned with that approach.

Barcelona, meanwhile, will continue probing the psychological seam. In future Clásicos, anticipate more in-game chatter aimed at disrupting Madrid’s front line—especially if the match tilts against them. If Madrid win early penalties in upcoming fixtures, watch for a short pause, a brief huddle, and then Mbappé stepping up—turning the clip into a motif. Should Mbappé miss one, the narrative will swing hard; rivals will test Vini’s composure with renewed taunts. But if Mbappé keeps converting, the topic fades and Real’s attack stabilizes around a predictable, elite finisher.

On social channels, the meme economy will keep milking the exchange until the next Clasico flashpoint arrives—likely a penalty shout, a celebration near the away fans, or a touchline spat. The safest bet: more heat, more theater, and Madrid doubling down on a hierarchy that maximizes expected goals and minimizes noise.

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Conclusion

This was classic Clasico theater: a needle from Ferran Torres, a cool shrug from Vinícius Júnior, and a quiet confirmation of Kylian Mbappé’s status from 12 yards. Strip away the banter and the footballing logic is clear—Madrid have assigned their best pure finisher to penalties, freeing Vini to devastate in transition, draw fouls, and create space. It’s a division of labor that suits both their profiles and Ancelotti’s structure.

For Barcelona, any edge is worth the try, and verbal sparring is part of the fabric of this rivalry. But the substance favors Madrid: defined roles, calm leaders, and an attack that’s learning to share the stage without splintering egos. If anything, Vini’s line reads as leadership—deflect the noise, stick to the plan. Penalties don’t crown a king; big-game impact does. As the season wears on, expect the conversation to shift from who takes the spot-kicks to how often Madrid force them—and how often their superstars decide games long before the referee points to the spot.