Vinicius Junior fact file as Brazilian star is set to be unveiled at Real Madrid

Matt Jones - Editor 07:55 19/07/2018
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  • One for the future and now: Vinicius Junior.

    Vinicius Junior, the latest Brazilian wonderkid off the production line, is set to be unveiled by Real Madrid on Thursday (15:00 UAE time).

    The 18-year-old talent arrived in Spain earlier this week to begin pre-season with Los Blancos following his €45 million transfer from Flamengo – the second most expensive sale of a player in the history of Brazilian football, behind only Neymar, who cost Barcelona €86m.

    Vinicius will be officially presented at the Santiago Bernabeu and will then try and force his way into Julen Lopetegui’s plans.

    Cristiano Ronaldo‘s departure to Juventus has left a void to be filled in attack and the teenager may well have an early chance to shine before the checkbook is opened again and more likely stellar incomings before the 2018/19 La Liga season kicks off.

    Here is our fact file on Real’s latest young superstar in the making:

    FACT FILE

    Name: Vinicius Jose Paixao de Oliveira Junior

    Age: 18

    DOB: 12/07/00

    Birthplace: Sao Goncalo, Rio de Janeiro

    Position: Forward

    Height: 5ft 10in

    Vinicius Junior made a tearful farewell from Flamengo last month.

    Career stats (club)

    Flamengo 2017

    Appearances: 37

    Goals: 4

    2018

    Appearances: 32

    Goals: 10

    International

    2015/2016 Brazil U-15s

    Appearances: 10

    Goals: 7

    2016/2017 Brazil U17s          

    Appearances: 19

    Goals: 17

    # In June 2017, Vinicius appeared in 39th place on The Telegraph’s list of the best under-21 players in the world. He was the only player playing in South America at the time to feature on the list.

    # He was called up to Brazil’s under-15 national team at the age of 13 and their star player despite being a year underage.

    # In 2015, he led Flamengo to the Copa Votorantim, one of the major football tournaments at that level in his homeland. He was the top scorer with six goals in nine matches.

    # In 2016, Vinicius moved to the under-17 team, again a year younger than his team-mates. It was the same outcome, though, as he excelled, scoring 10 goals and leading the league in assists, delivering the 2016 under-17 Rio de Janeiro State League title to Flamengo.

    # He achieved his highest level of fame as a youth player in 2017 when he led Flamengo to victory in the Sao Paulo Youth Cup, the largest under-20 football competition in Brazil. Even though he was three years younger than the maximum age, Vinicius was one of the stars of the tournament.

    # Flamengo signed Vinicius on a three-year professional contract as soon as he turned 16 with a buyout clause of €30m, inclusive of the club retaining 90 per cent of his economic rights. Major European clubs like Barcelona and Madrid were among the first to express interest in signing the young striker after his outstanding performances at youth level.

    # Vinicius debuted for Flamengo on May 13, 2017 as an 82nd minute substitute in a Brazilian Serie A 1-1 draw against Atletico Mineiro. Two days later he extended his contract with the club from 2019 until 2022, with a significant salary increase and a buyout clause increase to €4m5. Ten days after his senior debut, his planned transfer to Real was made official.

    # On 10 August 2017, he scored the first professional goal of his career in a Copa Sudamericana second-round leg two match against Palestino, in which his team won 5-0. He scored the goal, Flamengo’s fifth of the game, 30 seconds after coming on in the 72nd minute. On August 19, 2017, he scored his first Brazilian Serie A goals for Flamengo, in a 2–0 victory against Atletico Goianiense.

    # In March 2017, Vinicius debuted in the under-17 South American Championship for Brazil with a goal in a 3-0 victory over Peru. In the final stage, he scored two more in a 3-0 win over Ecuador and a brace in a the success over Colombia by the same scoreline, securing Brazil’s place in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. He was named the tournament’s best player and was top goal-scorer with seven goals.

    The attacker has been prolific at international youth level.

    WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY ABOUT HIM:

    ZICO

    “We’ve got to be careful with him because there are big expectations and that could affect him,” said the former Flamengo man.

    “He’s 16, everyone’s putting pressure on him, saying that he has to play. Yes, that’s good in certain conditions, but we have to be calm and not think that he has to do the same as what he produced in the under-20 side. We can’t put him under pressure.”

    EDMUNDO

    “Real Madrid are gambling and they think that he’s going to be a key player, a Galactico,” noted the 1997 Copa America champion.

    “They need a replacement for Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and the other players. Their team needs rejuvenating. They don’t want Vinicius to go to another team in Europe and then have to sign him from there. I think that it’s a gamble.

    “And if it goes well at Real Madrid? Then he’d cost €200m. He’s good, for his age, he’s above average. He’s still got a lot to learn. Neymar didn’t drop away when he went for big money, Robinho did.”

    BEBETO

    “He’s got to go calmly, he’s only 16,” stated the 53-year-old.

    “I started to play professionally at that age. I know Vinicius, he’s a good guy, calm, with a good head. He’s a very quick and intelligent player, he knows how to score goals.

    “I think that he has everything to be a great player but we’ve got to stay calm. If the lad didn’t have his family it would be more difficult, but he’s got a good head.”

    BRAZIL U-17s COACH CARLOS AMADEU

    “Vinicius has everything to become a top-quality player, to move up to the senior Brazil squad and play for the biggest clubs around the world.

    “If he remains focused on his goals, he has all the tools. He has a lot of technical qualities and is showing a cool head in amongst all the glamour that is currently surrounding him. He has remained balanced, and if he stays like that he can reach the top.”

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