Ancelotti: “Vini Jr is not at his best, but with him we won two Champions Leagues”
Real Madrid coach defends former Flamengo striker from criticism over performances for Brazil
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has come out in defense of Vinicius Junior, who has been criticized for his performance with the Brazilian national team, which is below his performance with the Spanish club. The Italian coach pointed out that Vinicius Jr has the ability to perform better, but he backed the player, a two-time Champions League winner with Los Merengues and one of the favorites for the 2024 Ballon d’Or .
– I think the problem is Brazil’s and I don’t want to get into that. It’s a more general problem, of a team that is finding it difficult to get the best out of its performance. It’s not a problem that Vinicius plays well for Real Madrid but badly in Brazil, and that’s why Brazil isn’t playing well; it’s a general problem. Here we are delighted with him because, even if he’s not at his best now, no one, and me first and foremost, can forget that with Vinicius we were able to win two Champions Leagues. Even if he’s not at his best, we have to be very fond of him – said Ancelotti, in a press conference this Friday.
Vini Jr has scored one goal and provided two assists in the five games he has played for Real Madrid at the start of the season. At the Spanish club since 2018, the Brazilian forward has become a key player for the team and was essential in winning the Champions League in 2021/22 and 2023/24, scoring in both finals.
In September’s FIFA World Cup, he failed to make an appearance for the national team, in the 1-0 victory over Ecuador in Curitiba and the 1-0 defeat to Paraguay in Asunción, both in the World Cup qualifiers. He had already had a frustrating Copa América, watching from the sidelines as Brazil was eliminated by Uruguay in the quarterfinals – he was suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards in the group stage.
– He is not at his best, but he is still very important for us. We are not in a rush because the team has scored and he has been important. The last concern for me is Vinicius’s condition. He always works well and it is only time for him to reach his best level. The important thing is what he can give – commented Ancelotti.
Real Madrid’s coach also downplayed Saudi Arabia’s interest in Vini Jr. Al-Ahli’s chairman of the board, Khaled Al-Issa, confirmed that the club had tried to sign the Brazilian . The promise was the biggest contract in the history of the sport, with earnings of R$6 billion over five years.
– I don’t know if he received this offer. I talk to him every day, not only with him but with everyone, and he has never mentioned this to me. I believe that Vinicius loves playing football so much that, whatever happens outside, he will not lose his focus, which is playing football.
Back at Real Madrid after his international commitments, Vini Jr is available to Ancelotti for this Saturday’s game against Real Sociedad, away from home, in the fifth round of La Liga. Unbeaten in the Spanish Championship, the club is in second place, behind Barcelona, the only team with a 100% record.
