Falcons backer plans private chats with Real Madrid stars before Sunday game
Bijan Robinson, who leads the NFL in rushing, says he will meet with Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe in Madrid to offer advice and support.
By Christopher Singh ·
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has accumulated 780 rushing yards in eight games this season, yet he says he does not feel like he is performing at the level of the league's best. While in Spain for a weekend game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Robinson plans to hold private meetings with Real Madrid forwards Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe before Sunday's kickoff.
Robinson and Vinicius have known each other for several years. The two first met through a shared jeweler during a Brazil national team visit to the United States a few years ago. They share the same jersey number, 7, in their respective sports. Robinson recently met Mbappe at the French national team headquarters during an NFL promotional event last week. During that gathering, Mbappe tried on American football pads and a helmet to play with Robinson, while Robinson took a turn kicking a soccer ball.
Vinicius is currently navigating a difficult stretch with Real Madrid. He has scored only one goal for the club this season, which came in an August league victory over Real Sociedad. The Brazilian forward is also serving a four-game suspension in La Liga. He received a red card for pulling an opponent's hair and then protesting to the referee.
Robinson said he intends to tell Vinicius to ignore external noise and social media. He advised the Real Madrid star to trust that God's plan for his career will remain strong regardless of current circumstances. Robinson noted that every athlete experiences low periods and that the key is maintaining focus on team duties at a high level.
The Falcons enter Sunday's game in Madrid with a 3-5 record. They suffered a 16-0 shutout loss to Tampa Bay last Sunday. In that game, Robinson was held to 76 yards on 19 carries. The team views the trip to Spain as a critical opportunity to rebound and tighten their unit.
Robinson described the upcoming contest as a playoff-style game for the Falcons. He said the squad is aware of the stakes involved in the season's later stages. The team's primary objective in Madrid is to secure a win, even if that means limiting time spent on local sightseeing. He emphasized that the result of this game will define how close the team can become as a unit.
Robinson stated that he and his running back coach constantly aim for the highest level of play to help the team win. He wants the Falcons' run game to be lethal and dominant, believing the team becomes hard to beat when that aspect operates at a high level. The Falcons will face the Bengals in Madrid on Sunday.
