Liverpool are set to welcome goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in the summer and the Georgian will hope to arrive at Anfield with his bank balance bolstered after a bet with Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr
Incoming Liverpool star Giorgi Mamardashvili has demanded Vinicius Jr cough it up after winning a bet against the Real Madrid star. The goalkeeper was part of the Valencia side to seal a dramatic victory over the Spanish giants over the weekend.
Mouctar Diakhaby had given Mamardashviili’s side the lead at the Bernabeu, only for Vinicius to equalise. Hugo Duro scored deep into stoppage time to seal a dramatic victory.
Mamardashvili had a key role to play after saving a penalty from the Brazilian wideman before Valencia’s opener. And he has revealed that a wager - which is banned in La Liga - had apparently been agreed between the two ahead of the spot-kick, albeit the Madrid star has yet to pay up.
Speaking to reporters, he said: "I had a conversation with Vinicius, and I won €50. I asked him if he wanted to bet €50, and he said 'yes'. And I won. He ought to pay me, but he hasn't yet.”
Of course, Vinicius still ended up finding the net as he drew level with countryman and former striker Ronaldo in the club’s goalscoring charts. And he took to social media shortly after with his thoughts.
He wrote: “A special day. It's an honour to have scored as many goals as my idol. I arrived here as a child, and he showed me the way. A bad game, but we know where to improve. Madrid never give up. See you in London.”
Back to Mamardashvili, his penalty save comes less than a month after his personal form had been questioned after a series of errors. And he took to Instagram vowing that he would be back to his best sooner rather than later.
“I know I'm not in my best moment now, but I'm convinced that challenges make us stronger,' Mamardashvili wrote on Instagram. “I'm putting in my best effort to be the best version of me as soon as possible. Thank you very much, Mestalla, for the support!”
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Mamardashvili will be back in action next Friday as Valencia take on Sevilla in La Liga. The club currently sits 15th in the La Liga table and seven points clear of the relegation zone after a run of just one defeat in their last eight league games. The Georgian is set to officially move to Anfield at the end of the season after agreeing a switch worth £34million.
Elsewhere, Vinicius Jr’s next assignment sees him come up against Arsenal in the Champions League - the first leg of their quarter-final meeting is due to take place at the Emirates on Tuesday evening.
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