VINICIUS Junior has made such an impact in his first few months as a Real Madrid player that a kid already being compared to Blancos legends Iker Casillas and Raul Gonzalez looks likely to keep Gareth Bale out of the XI for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg at Barcelona.
The 18-year-old Brazilian may have only scored his first La Liga goal in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Alaves. But he has quickly and surprisingly emerging one of Madrid's most important players, while bowling over the Bernabeu’s famously difficult to impress hardcore.
On Sunday, Santi Solari’s side were struggling to break down a well organised Alaves defence with half an hour played. Then Vinicius measured a perfectly timed and weighted pass for overlapping left-back Sergio Reguilon, who had time and space to pick out Karim Benzema to make it 1-0 from close range.
Vinicius Jr on the upcoming Barcelona match: ''Nothing scares me. I play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world. I don't fear anything.'' pic.twitter.com/OZYJ4bfieh
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) February 4, 2019
Blancos fans and pundits have already become accustomed to such game-changing pieces of skill and intelligence. The understandable skepticism shown when Madrid agreed to pay €61 million for a 16-year-old who had not yet played a senior game for Flamengo has faded almost completely away.
His senior debut – in Santi Solari's first game as coach in late October – brought two assists in a Copa del Rey last 32 game at third tier Melilla. Four days later he entered against Valladolid at the Bernabeu with the game goalless and 20 minutes remaining. Almost immediately he took the ball, drove straight for goal and hit a cross-shot knocked to his own net by Kiko Olivas.
That was just the beginning. The impact is even more impressive considering just how low things have been around Madrid this season. Football wisdom is that it is much easier for youngsters to settle into a winning side.
But in this case Vinicius himself has been the player injecting energy and enthusiasm into a setup that was very dull and depressing through the autumn. It is not a coincidence that he came into the side directly after a 1-5 La Liga Clasico defeat, when everyone at the Bernabeu needed something new to cling to.
AS cover: “Vinicius essential” – The fans want him to be a starter at the Camp Nou! pic.twitter.com/ikEE4RDwDe
— SB (@Realmadridplace) February 5, 2019
Reporters close to Florentino Perez have seen this as vindication of the club president's focus on buying the best young talents. But even more sober local pundits admit the kid already looks like a future superstar. “A new era is approaching at Madrid – Vinicius’ era,” wrote Marco Ruiz in AS.
“The change of mood at Madrid is almost exclusively his work. A struggling Madrid have pulled themselves to safety thanks to an 18-year-old.”
That has not looked like hyberbole. Vinicius is the Copa’s leading assist provider this season – with seven in six games, along with two goals. Bale's latest injury saw the youngster start each of Madrid’s last nine games. The composed finish which settled Sunday’s win over stubborn Alaves was soon followed by a first standing ovation from enraptured Blancos supporters.
Veteran pundit Santi Segurola said the impact could only be compared to that of two past teenage debutants who went on to become Bernabeu legends. “More than in football, the impact of Raul and Iker was emotional,” wrote Segurola. “They lifted the team’s spirits, connected with the fans and became indispensable, even with their inexperience. It is love at first sight. The Bernabeu has connected with Vinicius as it knows that without the Brazilian the team is not as good.”
The new object of the Bernabeu’s desires himself has taken everything remarkably calmly. “I'm happy, keep working to improve,” Vinicius said quietly but confidently on Sunday. “I feel important, like all the players. I'm not afraid [of a Clasico]. I play for Madrid, the best team in the world. Nothing scares me.”
Solari asked if Vinicius won right to be undroppable – "Nobody is undroppable in football."
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) February 5, 2019
Meanwhile, Bale is slowly working his way back to full fitness. The 30-year-old had a quiet game against Alaves, one instant control and snap-shot aside, and was once again whistled by some of his own team’s fans. “If Vinicius has clicked into the team's workings in just three months, Bale is still looking to do so after six years,” wrote Diego Torres in El Pais.
With Solari likely to favour the workrate and tactical nous of Lucas Vazquez on one wing for both Wednesday’s Clasico at the Camp Nou and Saturday’s La Liga derbi at Atletico, it looks like a straight call between Welshman and Brazilian for the spot on the left-wing.
“I'm not going to tell you the team,” Solari responded cautiously on Sunday when asked if Vinicius now deserved a first Clasico. “Today he played a great game, left to an ovation. He is doing this with mature players around him who look after him and give him advice.”
There was also support from the Argentine when Bale's contribution was questioned: “Gareth has been out for a while,” Solari said. “Bit by bit he will get back the rhythm he needs.”
That reasoning will likely allow for Vinicius to remain in the XI on Wednesday at the Camp Nou. A big performance there and nobody will get the kid out of the team. The future is now for the Bernabeu's newest favourite son.
