Former Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard has spoken about the pressure surrounding current Madrid star Vinicius Jr., suggesting that the constant attention around the Brazilian could eventually take its toll.

Hazard spent several seasons alongside Vinicius in the Real Madrid dressing room. 

Although injuries limited his own impact at the club, the Belgian forward had the opportunity to observe the Brazilian’s growth closely during those years.

Worrying claim about Vinicius

In a recent interview with Belgian public broadcaster RTBF (h/t SPORT), Hazard admitted that he greatly admires Vinicius for the way he enjoys playing football. 

However, he also expressed concern about the amount of pressure the winger faces away from the pitch.

“He has so many things on his mind before a match that sometimes I say to myself, ‘poor guy’. 

“He knows he’s going to go through this. It must be a burden, I wouldn’t be surprised if at 30 he said he was leaving, that he was quitting football, because in any case nothing changes,” Hazard said.

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Furthermore, Hazard was able to see firsthand how Vinicius handles the intense pressure that comes with being one of the biggest stars at Real Madrid. 

According to the Belgian, the Brazilian has shown remarkable mental strength in dealing with difficult situations.

“Now people talk more about what he does or what he suffers than what he contributes on the pitch. People forget what an exceptional player he is. 

“That must weigh on him. It can’t be easy to go and play a match and think only about football,” he said.

Vinicius has often been at the centre of discussions beyond football itself, something Hazard believes can distract from the incredible performances the Brazilian regularly produces on the field.

Despite the controversies that sometimes surround him, Hazard sees a similarity between Vinicius’ personality and his own approach to the game during his playing days.

“He’s just someone who loves football, who loves to play and who just wants to have fun. A bit like me when I was on the pitch,” he added.

Advice to Vinicius

If Hazard had the opportunity to offer Vinicius direct advice, he would simply encourage him to stay focused while also being mindful of the attention he receives.

“I would say to him, ‘Be careful. Play the way you want to play, but be careful. People are waiting for you, so play football, have fun, and let us, true football fans, enjoy ourselves. 

“When you dance, dance in a way that makes people love you. Ronaldinho also danced, and I don’t remember seeing all these stories,” he said.