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- Vinicius Jr. finished second in Ballon d’Or rankings
- Might be tempted to leave Madrid
- Has garnered interest from Saudi Arabia and England
WHAT HAPPENED?
Vinicius Jr. could decide to reconsider his future at Real Madrid following his surprise Ballon d’Or snub earlier this week, with Manchester City’s Rodri taking the honours at the gala in Paris. Per a report from AS, the 24-year-old’s entourage are studying options for the future as they feel a number of circumstances are not quite right for the attacker at his current club.
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Vinicius has had a tough time in Spain ever since he arrived from Brazil at the tender age of 18 in 2018. His first few seasons at Real Madrid were riddled with inconsistency, until Carlo Ancelotti unlocked his potential and transformed him into a world-beater.
While Vinicius certainly feels loved by his coach, team-mates, president Florentino Perez, as well as Madridistas all over the world, the story flips whenever he visits opposition stadiums.
Not only does the Brazilian winger feel unprotected by the referees, but has also had to deal with countless episodes of racial abuse over the years. That, coupled with the Ballon d’Or snub and interest from Saudi Arabia and the Premier League, could see Vinicius seek greener pastures, with his Real Madrid contract expiring in 2027.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to Vinicius’ management staff, it was the player’s continued battle against racism which led to his Ballon d’Or snub. “The football world is not ready to accept a player who fights against the system,” Vini’s management staff told Reuters.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS JR.?
The former Flamengo prodigy will now turn his focus to Real Madrid’s important visit to the Mestalla this weekend, where he has been targeted with racial abuse in the past two seasons.
GOAL