Real Madrid News
Report: 25-year-old superstar is crazy about becoming Real Madrid captain
Real Madrid are undergoing a massive squad overhaul this summer, and their decisions are not just limited to arrivals and departures.
With club legend Dani Carvajal leaving at the end of last season, Los Blancos lost their captain and will have to appoint someone new to wear the armband going forward.
Federico Valverde has been mentioned as one of the candidates to take on the armband, but it looks like he will not be without competition.
According to Alberto Pereiro via MadridXtra, Vinicius Junior is very excited about the possibility of becoming Real Madrid captain.
That says plenty about how he sees himself inside the club. This is not just a player looking for status.
It is a player who has grown from a teenage signing into one of the faces of Madrid’s modern era.
The idea of Vinicius wearing the armband feels powerful. He has lived the pressure, the criticism, the big nights and the emotional weight of representing Real Madrid.
Leadership beyond the contract
The timing is important because Vinicius’ renewal remains one of the major issues of the summer.
Florentino Perez considers extending his contract a bigger priority than signing Michael Olise, and that shows how central the Brazilian remains to the club’s thinking.
If Vinicius wants the captaincy, it also suggests he is not emotionally disconnected from Madrid. Players who are thinking only about an exit usually do not obsess over leading the team.
That does not mean the contract situation is automatically solved. Salary, status and long-term planning still need to be agreed. The captaincy desire is only an added layer.
A symbol for the new era
Vinicius becoming captain would represent a major step in his journey.
He arrived as a raw talent, developed under huge scrutiny and became decisive in the biggest competitions. He has also been defended strongly by the club, especially by Perez, during difficult periods.
Now, the armband would confirm something Madrid fans already know: Vini is not just part of the project, he is one of its symbols.
Of course, captaincy at Real Madrid is not only about passion. It demands calm, responsibility and control in difficult moments. That is the next step for Vinicius.
His passion is one of his greatest strengths, but as captain, he would need to channel it even more carefully.
Still, the desire itself is positive. Vinicius wants to lead. He wants the responsibility. It remains to be seen whether he or Fede is appointed as the next captain of Los Blancos and how they lead the club into the future.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. admits finishing problem after another frustrating night vs Elche: ‘Can’t miss that much’
Vinicius Jr.’s difficult start in front of goal continued against Elche, and the Real Madrid forward did not need anyone to tell him he had missed another chance to make the difference.
The Brazilian finished the night without a goal despite having chances to get on the scoresheet, while his teammates could only watch from the bench as opportunities went begging.
Jose Mourinho had already identified the problem before kick-off, bluntly pointing to the issue facing his forward, stating, “He’s missing the goal.”
Vini offered an equally frank assessment afterwards.
Rather than hide from another frustrating evening, he accepted responsibility on social media: “The goals will come back; I can’t miss that much…”
Two chances, no finish for Vinicius
Vinicius had two particularly clear openings against Elche, but neither produced the finish Real Madrid needed from their star forward.
The first arrived when he found himself one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper.
Instead of finding the net, Vinicius caught the ball with the tip of his foot and sent his effort wide. Arda Guler was available during the move and called for the ball, but Vini backed himself to finish the chance.
He had another opportunity after the interval, this time following an excellent pass from Guler during a quick Real Madrid transition. Again, though, Vinicius could not find the target.
His evening ended in the 68th minute, with Mourinho deciding the Brazilian was tired and turning his attention towards Sunday’s Atletico Madrid derby.
Mourinho has a bigger decision to make
The numbers show why Vinicius’ finishing has become a talking point. He managed five shots against Elche, but only one was on target and none found the net.
After seven appearances this season, the Brazilian has scored just once, which is a striking return for a player Real Madrid rely upon to provide a major share of their attacking threat.
Ultimately, though, Real Madrid found another route to victory, with Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe and Carlos Espi providing the goals in the 3-2 comeback.
