Vinicius Jr: the Real deal
After his jaw- dropping transfer to Real Madrid stunned football in 2017, a 16- year- old boy has become a man at the Bernabeu. Vinicius Jr tells FFT all about life under the microscope
Exclusive with the Madrid ace
What were you doing aged 16? On second thoughts, maybe don’t dwell on that. But Vinicius Junior won’t want to forget that period of his life in a hurry. In May 2017, he became the second most expensive Brazilian footballing export of all time ( behind Neymar) when Real Madrid struck a deal with Flamengo worth € 46 million. Los Blancos announced the agreement just 10 days after Vinicius’ senior debut at the Maracana, where the grinning teenager had asked one of his heroes, Robinho – a former Real Madrid player himself – for a shirt swap at full- time.
Although Vinicius is the first senior Real Madrid player born in this millennium, he has been under the spotlight for close to a decade. Yet, as overwhelming as that may seem, the Rio de Janeiro native has coped extraordinarily well with the weight of a watching world on his shoulders. Aged 19, Vinicius has already made 50 first- team appearances for the Spanish giants, becoming an early favourite at the ever- demanding Bernabeu. In September 2019, he earned his first two Brazil caps under coach Tite, fulfilling a childhood dream of pulling on the famous Selecao shirt.
Despite his rapid rise, the Brazilian hasn’t had it all easy. His family couldn’t always afford the daily 70km commute from Sao Goncalo, an impoverished suburb of Rio, to Flamengo’s training ground. Even playing for the world’s biggest club has had pitfalls.
In a rare chat with British media, Vinicius shares with Fourfourtwo his remarkable journey through adolescence under intense scrutiny. He explains why he is still star- struck in the dressing room, discusses his Real Madrid ambitions and explains which Galactico has helped him the most in Spain’s capital city so far ( clue: it’s none of his four Brazil team- mates). And the starlet’s ultimate aim for this decade? The fanboy strikes again – he is desperate to meet an NBA legend…
Can you tell us a bit about where you grew up?
I was raised by my parents and grandmother in Sao Goncalo, Rio de Janeiro. I had other relatives in my neighbourhood, like cousins, so I grew up in a good environment. I was always playing football on the streets, but my school was far away because I had a scholarship. It took over an hour by bus! I was well behaved, to be honest – not one of those boys who skipped school to play...
What are your earliest football memories?
I was four on my first day at Flamengo and my dad told me, “Enjoy your time on the pitch; see if this is the dream you want to pursue.” I grew up looking up to Ronaldinho, Robinho and Neymar. Their skills and ability were magical for a child like me. I would turn on the TV just to see Ronaldinho play. If there’s one thing that watching these players taught me, it was to be unafraid of trying things in front of a defender. I’ve done it since I was in the academy and just carried it on. Nowadays, Neymar is the greatest in this respect. Rodrygo and Marcelo, as born- and- bred Brazilians, also have it in them – I watch them doing it on a daily basis.
Flamengo’s academy is well- known. How did you develop there?
I properly joined the club aged 10, and after two years I was already seen as a wonderkid. As a result, people tried to put it into my mind that I wasn’t always the best when things were going to plan, and that I wasn’t the worst when things weren’t good. That helped me to keep a level head. I still remember the chats I had with the club’s psychologist, when he told me to remain grounded and continue to respect older people and my team- mates.
How did you manage that mammoth journey to attend training?
It was so far away, and I did that from 2010 until 2014. There was a time when a neighbourhood friend would take me to training, and then it was another person. There was always another player from Sao Goncalo, so that made things a bit easier. But when you’re a kid, you don’t pay much attention to these things. The worst part was when I had to do the journey with my mum or dad by bus: it could take three hours one way, depending on the traffic.
As a younger player, how confident were you about ‘ making it’?
At the beginning I played for fun, as most youngsters do, but then when things got more serious – a salary, people talking about me – you realise you have to focus even more. When I was 14, I made up my mind that I could be a great player. From that moment, my dad has always shown me the path to follow. There were days when we were short of money so I couldn’t afford to attend training sessions, but Flamengo were understanding because they knew that many boys lived far away and didn’t have much money.
How did you cope with the pressure of debuting for Brazil’s most popular club at the age of 16?
My debut was quite tough – I wasn’t expecting to play after coming back from the South American Under- 17 Championship. We were warming up behind a goal and Lucas Paqueta told me that [ coach] Ze Ricardo was calling for me. I said, “No, Paqueta, it’s you.” I slowly went over to the touchline, not really believing what was going on, but Ze Ricardo put me on. It’s not easy for a 16- year- old boy to play at the Maracana with more than 40,000 fans watching and singing your name. It was a surprise – I didn’t know that many people knew who I was! Unfortunately, I got a bit nervous and couldn’t show my game, but it was a vital step.
How have you coped with the huge expectations placed on your shoulders from a young age?
I think only about playing football, and count a lot on my family to help me make the best choices. My clubs have been amazing on and off the pitch. There are four other Brazilians at Real Madrid – Rodrygo and Eder Militao joined a year after me. Marcelo and Casemiro being here for a while makes things easier. One of my objectives is to have the level heads they do, so I can stay at the club for a long time and hopefully be on the same winning path.
How did you find out that Real Madrid wanted you?
It was right after I came back from the 2017 South American U17 Championship in Chile. There were already rumours in the press, but I never believed them. Eventually it happened: both Real Madrid and Barcelona put offers on the table and I had only three days to make my decision. I always wanted to play for the greatest club, so that’s why I chose Real. My parents visited both clubs and liked them more. It matched with what I already wanted, and I felt their project was better for me. They give a lot of minutes to the younger players, like me, and were going through an outstanding period of success in the Champions League back then.
Did you face extra pressure due to the size of your transfer fee?
Yes, absolutely – that was one of the toughest parts, more so than playing consistently. I had to make everyone forget about the price tag. Fortunately, I played a lot of games in my first season [ 31 in all competitions]. Now I have surpassed 50 matches for Real Madrid – few players achieve that at such a young age.
What have you learned the most since joining Real?
I’ve improved a lot tactically. Playing alongside the greatest players in the world has helped me to achieve that. The levels are very high, even in training, which pushes me to stay on my toes. It was one of the reasons I wanted to come to Europe as quickly as possible. Here, I not only play with the best players but against the best.
“I WATCHED THESE PLAYERS ON TV – NOW EVERY DAY I TRAIN AND PLAY GAMES WITH THEM”
And what about on a personal level?
I know that what I do off the pitch is key for me to perform on it, so I make the best decisions to play as many games as possible. I have my own physiotherapist, who I work with daily to boost my recovery and help prevent injuries. I also have a strict diet. I had to decrease the amount of brigadeiros [ Brazilian fudge balls] I used to eat! Now I’m only allowed to have them on my days off. [ Laughs]
Who at the club helps you out the most?
Karim [ Benzema], without a shadow of a doubt. He has helped me since day one, advising me on how to make the best decisions, and whenever we play together he tells me to remain calm and focused. There was a match against Atletico Madrid when I lost possession and we conceded a goal. He spoke to me about switching positions for a few minutes, so that I would receive possession less and regain my confidence to get back into the game. We did that and it worked perfectly. He’s experienced – he’s been at Real Madrid for more than a decade now – so it’s a privilege to learn from him.
How has Zinedine Zidane improved your game?
He does whatever he can to make his players feel comfortable and perform well on the pitch. He likes having chats individually, to let us know exactly what he wants. He gives me so much confidence, saying that if I keep doing things the right way, I will be the future of the club alongside other young players like Rodrygo.
Have you ever been star- struck in the dressing room?
Often, because I used to watch these players on TV; now every day I train and play video games with them. And it happens with former players. Roberto Carlos and Emilio Butragueno are here sometimes, and I have to respect them for everything they’ve done for the club.
How does Real Madrid training compare to Flamengo training?
It’s actually difficult to describe the quality we have at Madrid, and the players’ mindset is totally different, too. There’s such a winning mentality that every single one of us wants to win every single thing, to boost the competitiveness of activities. If you slow down a little bit in training, the gap to everyone else will increase. [ FFT: And who dominates?] Marcelo is so skilful with phenomenal ball control, and Karim thinks 10 seconds ahead of everyone else.
What have been your biggest challenges since coming to Spain?
The toughest part is being far away from Rio de Janeiro. Whenever I can, I bring guests over to spend time here. Two childhood friends live with me, and we can chill out together. Apart from that, I feel completely at home and ready to do what I love most: play football.
What have your experiences of Real Madrid supporters been like so far? They can be very demanding...
I’m all right with that. I grew up playing for Flamengo, so I’m used to playing under big pressure. At Real Madrid, it’s exactly the same. When things don’t go to plan you are under scrutiny, but when the momentum is strong, those fans push you to the top.
You’re often battling with Rodrygo for a first- team place, so are the two of you still good friends off the pitch?
We’re fine with it, because here at Real, most players play the same number of games over a season. But I’m happier when we’re on the pitch at the same time! [ Laughs]
You made your Brazil debut in September – what was that like?
There’s nothing better in football, and that dressing room is the best environment in the world. I was over the moon to play alongside my idol Neymar and other top guys like Thiago Silva. I grew up watching them on TV, so it was an honour to be on the pitch with them. I was also very happy to meet Lucas Paqueta [ now of Milan], to remember everything we did together at Flamengo. [ FFT: What did Tite say to you?] He called me in for a chat and said I had to remain focused; to not get carried away whether things were going good or bad. I know how difficult it is to get into the Selecao squad, because there are so many brilliant forwards. What I can say is that as soon as I get the chance, I will grab it and stay in the starting line- up.
What would you like to have won within the next decade?
I want to keep playing for Real Madrid at the highest level possible, and win the Champions League. I’d also like a place in the national team that wins the World Cup. My ultimate dream had been to play with Neymar for Brazil, so now it’s to meet Lebron James. He’s my hero for everything he does in the NBA, never hiding when his team needs him. Hopefully, Nike will give me a hand with that! [ Laughs]