Real Madrid News
Barcelona defender heaps praise on Real Madrid forward: “Best 1v1 player in the world”
Speaking in an interview with Futbol UY, Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo has heaped praises on Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr, hailing him as the best player in the world when it comes to 1v1 situations.
Vinicius and Araujo have been locked in some feisty duels in El Clasico encounters in recent seasons. Whenever Barça come up against Real Madrid, Xavi opts to start Araujo at right-back to tackle the threat of Vinicius.
And the battle makes for an enticing watch for fans, with both players having had their share of success. There is a great sense of mutual respect between the pair and Araujo has previously spoken highly of the Real Madrid winger.
Now once again, the Barcelona mainstay has lavished praise on Vinicius, saying: “For me, he is the best 1v1 player in the world. He generates those duels that help and are important for his team.”
Talking about the challenges that the Brazilian speedster poses on the pitch, Araujo added: “When I play against Vinicius I have to be focused the whole game because he is a very dynamic player and he makes a lot of runs and keeps changing his rhythm at all times.”
“Vinicius has that physical ability to go from 0 to 100 very quickly and you have to be very focused when you play against him.”
The Real Madrid winger has also been effusive in his praise for the Barcelona defender in the past, having said: “The best defender I have ever faced is Araujo. He’s very strong and very good. That’s why he plays for Barça.”
Araujo and Vinicius could next come face to face in the summer as Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to play a Clasico on their pre-season tour of the US.
Real Madrid News
English legend backs Real Madrid star to become one of the all-time greats: ‘He’s got everything’
Jude Bellingham has spent the past fortnight as the most talked-about footballer in England, and the superlatives show no sign of slowing down.
A masterclass in the Nations League, a clutch of records and a second straight Player of the Year award has not gone unnoticed in English footballing media.
Now one of the English game’s most respected voices has added his name to the growing list of believers.
Lineker backs Bellingham
Asked whether Bellingham can go on to become one of the greatest players of all time, England legend Gary Lineker left no room for doubt.
“Yes, I’ve been saying it for a long time now. If he avoids serious injury or falls of the rails which he won’t I’m sure.
“He’s so good at football, he’s got everything. He’s a superstar and carries himself like a superstar,” he said (h/t Track Radio).
The verdict chimes comes in the midst of a wider chorus of acclaim in recent days. Roy Keane tipped him to become one of the greatest of all time after the Croatia rout, with Ian Wright and Micah Richards among others queuing up to praise him.
Backed by the numbers
The acclaim for Bellingham comes on the back of an extraordinary international break for Bellingham.
Against Croatia, Bellingham scored one and created three in the 7-0 win, becoming the first England player to record four goal involvements in a single game since David Platt in 1993.
He finished the window with one goal and four assists and was named UEFA’s Player of the Round.
That international excellence has carried over to the Bernabeu, where he has settled into a free number 10 role under Jose Mourinho and sits as the club’s joint-leading creator.
Bellingham was part of Real Madrid’s recent 1-0 win over Villarreal as well, and was unlucky not to register an assist when Vinicius Jr.’s goal was disallowed.
The Englishman will be looking to make an impact once again when Real Madrid take on AS Roma this Wednesday.
Kay De
May 19, 2023 at 7:50 am
Mutual respect. Both are very good.