Casemiro has backed Real Madrid team-mate Vinicius Junior to target the Ballon d’Or and FIFA’s World XI following massive strides in his development.
The Brazilian teenager burst onto the scene last season after Santiago Solari made him a regular in the Los Blancos starting line-up. Despite not being able to score many goals, the 19-year-old showed promise on the pitch with his incredible dribbling abilities and off-the-ball movement.
Vinicius made his senior national team debut in Brazil’s 1-0 defeat to Peru on Tuesday and endured an average performance. But Casemiro believes that the winger’s abilities are not normal and he must target the big prizes now.
“Vinicius has a very good head and, in the past year, he has surprised many people with the football he played,” the midfielder told reporters, according to Goal.
“It is not normal for a 19-year-old boy to do what he did with the Real Madrid shirt. I told him the other day that this year is a year that he has to start thinking big.
“I repeat: what he did last year was not normal. He surprised everyone and showed that he is ready to be a starter at Real Madrid.
“When you are a starting Real Madrid player, you have to think big. Think of the Ballon d’Or, FIFA’s World XI. He is a great player and he has already proven it.
“Of course, he is very young, you cannot put too much pressure and weight on his back. But I think he has to start thinking big.
“It is very important for us that he is here with the national team, but we have to be calm; two years ago he was playing in the Flamengo youth team.”
