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Wednesday 6. February 2019 - 12:26

Fearless Vinicius can come of age for Real Madrid against Barcelona in the Clasico

It seemed unlikely in the summer that Vinicius Junior, at the age of just 18, would emerge as a new hero for Real Madrid in his debut season at the Santiago Bernabeu.


As the campaign got under way and the Br azilian was ignored by coach Julen Lopetegui, it appeared even less likely still. But in the space of a few months, everything has changed.


Vinicius played for just 12 minutes during Lopetegui's reign in two brief substitute appearances — two in the derby against Atletico and 10 in the defeat at Alaves. It was not what president Florentino Perez had in mind.


"We are convinced that Vinicius Junior is one of those players who will go on to define the future in a very special way, but at the same time, he is already proving himself to be a reality," the club chief had said at the forward's unveiling in July.


Perez was unhappy as the Br azilian was barely considered by Lopetegui, despite the team's problems in front of goal.


Ahead of October's Clasico clash at Camp Nou, the club fought to have the player's suspension with the youth team overturned so he could travel to Barcelona. But on arrival in the Catalan capital, Lopetegui left him in the stands.


The Basque's subsequent sacking and the promotion of Santiago Solari, Vinicius' coach at Castilla, brought with it a fresh opportunity for the teenager and three days after his Clasico snub, he found himself in the starting line-up.


He shone in a 4-0 win away to Segunda Division B side Melilla, bagging two assists in an electric display. Still, however, it had come against a weaker rival and many were not convinced.


Solari, though, was not among them. The Argentine sent the Br azilian on in his first league game, at home to Valladolid, and was rewarded as a shot from the youngster — after a run into the box — took a big deflection and produced an opening goal out of nothing.


There was a large element of luck about the 18-year-old's intervention, but at least he had dared to attempt something different. And that is the appeal of Vinicius: he is always trying to makes things happen.


His shooting can be wayward, his decision-making is sometimes poor and he often runs into defenders and loses the ball. But he has that innocence, a precociousness or "freshness", as Solari says, which is proving invaluable for Real at the moment.


He has already established a rapport with Karim Benzema. "Chemistry," his coach calls it, and the two have combined in many of the team's goals in recent games.


In that time, Vinicius has performed so well that the Argentine was asked on Tuesday if he did not think the youngster was now "undroppable".


"No player is undroppable," the 42-year-old replied. Nevertheless, he has been as good as that in recent weeks and was even included in the line-up away to Betis last month after he had been suffering from fever and a high temperature in the days preceding the match.


Even with Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio fit again, It would surely not be wise for Solari to leave out Vinicius on this form. Because despite his tender age and lack of experience, his fearlessness means he will not be fazed at all by playing at Camp Nou.


And while he can be frustrated by some sides playing a low block against Madrid, especially at the Bernabeu, the one thing he will have versus Barca is space. The Catalans defend high up the pitch and with the right movement and runs, Vinicius can cause plenty of problems for the Liga leaders in this Copa del Rey semi-final first leg.


The hype machine is in overdrive in Madrid, with one journalist claiming the youngster could win the Ballon d'Or and TV show El Chringuito comparing the player to Barca's Lionel Messi.


It is clear, however, that Real have themselves a tremendous talent in Vinicius and after the disappointment of missing out in the last Clasico, Wednesday night could be the night the Br azilian truly comes of age in the famous white shirt.

 
Provided by: Frank Henriksen
 
 
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