Real Madrid News
‘Together’ – Vinicius closes ranks with Real Madrid teammates after Ballon d’Or snub
Vinicius Jr. has found himself at the centre of attention over the past 24 hours, primarily because of his unexpected loss to Rodri in the race for the Ballon d’Or title.
Although the Real Madrid star was the undisputed favourite to seal Ballon d’Or this year, he surprisingly lost to Rodri through popular vote, causing a wave of chaos surrounding the event.
Shortly after learning of Vinicius’ defeat, Real Madrid, thanks to the enterprise of Carlo Ancelotti, decided to boycott the event.
As such, the Real Madrid delegation skipped the Ballon d’Or gala even though Ancelotti himself won the Manager of the Year while Los Blancos won the Club of the Year award.
In the midst of all this, Vinicius Junior opted to stay silent and has been largely inactive after Real Madrid’s loss to Barcelona.
Vinicius breaks silence
With all eyes on the Brazilian’s reaction, Vinicius made his first public comment last night, with a rather cryptic post.
Now, the forward has shared another post, this time on Instagram. He published a picture of the entire Real Madrid squad, with the caption reading, “Juntos”, meaning Together.
Vinicius’ post signifies that he is indeed happy and touched by Real Madrid’s decision to boycott the event and show him support, even though others in his team did win accolades.
It was reported earlier that Real Madrid’s decision to skip the Ballon d’Or gala was not only motivated by protest but also support for the attacker, who was reportedly going through a tough period.
It appears the Brazilian has now given his stamp of approval, though it will be interesting to see whether or not the player comes in front of the camera to talk more openly about the Ballon d’Or snub.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid key midfielder ready to start vs Atletico Madrid after strong return from injury
Real Madrid have had a few injuries to contend with since the start of the season, with Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick all serving spells on the sidelines.
The trio are back in training now and looking to work their way into Jose Mourinho’s plans after a disrupted pre-season.
Now, according to Alberto Pereiro, Tchouameni appears to be winning the race to return to Real Madrid’s starting XI for the derby against Atletico Madrid.
The 26-year-old is said to be in the best physical condition of the players who have recently returned from injury.
Thiago Pitarch, Endrick and Tchouameni all rejoined team training last week, but the Frenchman is currently considered the most match-ready of the three.
Tchouameni ahead in the recovery race
As such, Tchouameni is now expected to start against Atletico Madrid later this week. That would be an important boost for Mourinho considering the physical nature of the game in store.
Tchouameni gives Real Madrid something very specific in midfield. He can protect the defence, compete in duels, cover large spaces and provide the kind of structure Mourinho values when matches become chaotic.
His return would also allow Real Madrid to approach the game with more balance around Federico Valverde and the attacking players ahead of them.
Mourinho has always valued his profile
Mourinho has been careful with Tchouameni’s recovery rather than rushing him back before he was fully ready.
That patience now looks set to pay off. Madrid have enough technical quality in midfield, but against Atletico, the game is unlikely to be decided by possession alone.
The ability to win second balls, close transition spaces and survive physically intense periods could be just as important.
This is exactly where Tchouameni thrives.
Pitarch and Endrick may need more time
The latest update also suggests Pitarch and Endrick are slightly behind Tchouameni in terms of physical readiness.
That does not necessarily mean either player is unavailable, but it would make sense for Mourinho to manage their minutes more cautiously. The duo are expected to be fully ready after the international break.
Pitarch still has an important role to play in a crowded midfield, while Endrick will be looking to re-establish himself in the attacking rotation after his own injury interruption.
For the derby, neither of those players is likely to be an option for the XI, but Tchouameni will definitely be a great addition.
If he does start, it would underline how highly Mourinho values him in the biggest matches. At the Metropolitano, Madrid may need Tchouameni more than anyone else, and it remains to be seen how things play out.
