According to AS, Paris Saint-Germain were willing to sell Neymar to Real Madrid this summer. But in exchange, the club’s newly appointed sporting director Leonardo Araujo wanted Vinicius Junior included in the deal. However, Madrid were quick to rebuff PSG’s proposal. They are, instead, keen on keeping hold of the Brazilian, who is held at high esteem by Araujo.
Vinicius’ spell at Real Madrid so far
Vinicius initially agreed on a premature contract with Real Madrid back in 2017. But, due to his age, he wasn’t allowed to make the switch to Santiago Bernabeu until his 18th birthday. As a result, he joined the Real Madrid camp in the pre-season of the 2018/19 campaign.
The Brazilian mustered only 864 minutes of league football in what was his debut campaign in the Spanish top flight. But, most of those minutes came during the second half of the season, where the 19-year-old became a pivotal part of the Madrid attack.
However, his overall influence was far greater. So much so, that he was even picked ahead of Gareth Bale, at times. And the youngster is expected to enjoy a more prominent role in the first-team in this new season, despite the arrival of Rodrygo and Eden Hazard.
What does Vinicius bring to the table?
A left-winger by nature, Vinicius is known for his electric pace and trickery on the flank. Much like Barcelona sensation Ousmane Dembele, the Brazilian has quick-feet and has excellent close control, allowing him to nestle through tight spaces. Standing at 1.76cm, Vinicius also has a small circumference that helps him maintain his balance even when he’s approaching defenders at full speed.
The ex-Flamengo prodigy already deceived a lot of defenders with his clever drop of the shoulders last season. However, he needs to improve on his overall productivity as well as finishing. He scored only one goal and provided two assists in 18 league matches last season.
Should Real Madrid keep hold of Vinicius?
Vinicius’ promising performance in La Liga last term was enough to suggest that he is ready to play at a higher level of football. Although he still has a lot of room for improvement, that’s only natural for a player of his age. Speaking of which, the Brazilian could turn out to be an excellent long-term asset for the club if he can quickly integrate as one of Real Madrid’s top players within the coming years.
Therefore, Los Merengues chose the right decision in not letting go of their prized attacker, who is destined for big things in the near future.
