Every cloud, it is said, has a silver lining. And amid Real Madrid’s troubled times this season, it is the form of Vinicius Junior that is providing a ray of hope for Los Blancos.
Vinicius was unveiled in the summer amid much fanfare, yet largely ignored by coach Julen Lopetegui. Under the Basque boss, he made only two brief substitute appearances: 12 minutes in total.
When Real travelled to Barcelona for the Clasico at the end of October, Vinicius was ruled out through suspension after picking up a red card with the youth team, Castilla. Madrid appealed and the decision was overturned, so he was named in the group, but cut from the matchday squad.
It all seemed strange, but it was probably for the best. Lopetegui’s side lost 5-1 at Camp Nou and Vinicius would have been helpless to prevent that defeat. The Basque was sacked the following day.
His replacement, Santiago Solari, knew the Br azilian well from their time together with the club’s youth team. And under the Argentine, the young forward has become a vital player for Real.
The 18-year-old impressed on his full debut with an assist in the 4-0 win over Melilla in the Copa del Rey, forced an own goal as he came off the bench to inspire a 2-0 victory over Valladolid days later, was the sole shining light as Madrid lost 2-0 to Real Sociedad at home last weekend and the star man as Solari’s side beat Leganes 3-0 on Wednesday night.
In total, he has two goals and five assists, while he has also forced two own goals (the one versus Valladolid and another in the Club World Cup final against Al Ain).
The Br azilian had looked set to miss today’s trip to Betis in La Liga after suffering for two days with flu, but his condition is improving and such is his importance now (especially in the absence of Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez on Sunday) that Madrid are keen for him to be involved at the Benito Villamarin.
In the pre-match press conference yesterday, Solari was asked how it was possible that an 18-year-old can be Madrid’s best player at the moment.
"The contribution of young players is always delicate in a team that has won the Champions League three times in a row," he said. "He’s an 18-year-old lad who has (recently) arrived and he is doing really well."
Such is his form that a debate has even started in Spain asking whether he should be retained in the side instead of Bale when the Welshman returns from injury, while sports show El Chiringuito TV even ran a poll asking which player was more exciting out of Vinicius and Barca’s Lionel Messi.
The hype over the Br azilian is real, but there is no doubt that Vinicius is an exciting talent and his performances are a much-needed tonic for Madrid in what has been a complicated campaign season so far for the European champions.