Real Madrid News
Man City ace lauds Real Madrid superstar – ‘He’s a champion and must be loved by everyone’
Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr. is perhaps one of modern football’s biggest scapegoats, often finding himself being subjected to racism, jeers and whistles, from opposition fans.
His relatively poor run of form since the Ballon d’Or heartbreak in 2024 hasn’t helped his case either. However, in the past few weeks, the Brazilian has truly vindicated himself.
Indeed, it was Vinicius who was perhaps Real Madrid’s most impactful player as Los Blancos secured a 5-1 aggregate win over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
The Brazilian international scored two of the goals himself and was a constant spark in the Real Madrid frontline across the two legs.
Donnarumma heaps praise on Vinicius Jr.
Vinicius’ performances have been such that he has earned praise even from the opposition, including Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, even though he was not impressed with the attacker during the game.
Following Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Manchester City on Tuesday, the Italian heaped praise on the attacker for his consistent display across the two legs.
“Vinicius is a champion, he must be loved by everyone. He has played two great games,” the goalkeeper said (h/t AS).
Vinicius’ solid run of form comes against the backdrop of his uncertain contract situation at Real Madrid, with the player yet to pen a deal with the club.
The Brazilian’s hefty wage demands have so far proven to be a hurdle, but his recent performances could be a step in the right direction.
There is, still, however, a lot to do. If Vinicius truly wants to earn a long-term contract at the Bernabeu, he must help Real Madrid not only compete with Barcelona for the league title but also help his team win the Champions League.
So far, Real Madrid are trailing Barcleona by four points at the top, whereas Los Blancos are slated to take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals – a tough assignment indeed for Alvaro Arbeloa’s men.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
