After a season where Real Madrid finished without major silverware, largely due to Vinicius Junior’s dip in form, new coach Xabi Alonso is encouraged by the Brazilian winger’s recent resurgence.
Vinicius’s return to form is crucial as Real Madrid prepares for their Club World Cup last-16 match against Juventus on Tuesday. His devastating best, combined with Kylian Mbappé’s impending return from a stomach bug, could provide Madrid with the firepower needed to win the competition.
In their recent 3-0 victory over Salzburg, which secured top spot in Group H and helped them avoid a strong Manchester City side, Vinicius scored a goal and set up another for Fede Valverde with a backheel assist.
Meanwhile, Vinicius is also currently in contract negotiations with Real Madrid for a new deal, as his current contract runs until 2027.
The challenge for Madrid and Alonso is to ensure Vinicius and last summer’s marquee signing, Mbappé, can link up effectively without compromising the team’s defensive stability. Mbappé, who missed all three group games due to acute gastroenteritis but has been training normally, could potentially make his first appearance under Alonso alongside Vinicius against Juventus in Orlando.
While the two forwards initially had some “teething problems” due to occupying similar spaces, Mbappé ultimately found top form, finishing the season with 43 goals across all competitions. Vinicius, despite netting 22 times, didn’t reach his peak level last season. Alonso remains confident in their ability to play together, stating, “They can do it, Vini from the outside, Kylian from the inside… it’s not mutually exclusive, things can work, there’s individual quality, but we need the team to function.”
Discussion about this post