Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid player
Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images
One of the biggest takeaways from Real Madrid’s opening stage of the season so far has been the struggle of Vinicius Jr. who has looked like a shadow of his former self for a long time.
Kylian Mbappe appears to have directly hit the star’s ability to create chances and importance in the team, for the Frenchman often drifts into the same areas that Vinicius thrives in.
As a result of the change in dynamic and his low confidence, he has simply not been the same in the final third. For the first time in years, his place in the starting XI is being called into doubt.
Former player backs Vinicius
Former Real Madrid player Savio Bortolini spoke to the media in a recent interview where he touched upon the topic of Real Madrid’s form and some of the club’s Brazilian players in detail.
The headline of his interaction was his stance on Vinicius Jr. who has suffered a torrid start to the season and seems lost in Real Madrid’s attacking third.
Vinicius Jr., Brazil and Real Madrid player
Vinicius has been going through a rough patch. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
“It’s very complicated because I’m watching him from Brazil and I don’t follow the training sessions daily, nor everything that happens.”
“He is going through a harder period than any other he has lived through here. But this is normal. All footballers go through good times and bad times. This is part of the game,” he added.
When asked what Vinicius must do to turn his situation around and come back stronger from everything that is being said about the player, Savio said,
“He must be extremely focused mentally and get past this stage. He is a talent. He is a young man I love very much. I always used to say that when they asked me about him before, when he arrived here.”
“Many were saying he had great difficulty shooting and passing, and I said, ‘Alright, calm down. Don’t worry. He is very young in age’,” he added.
Elaborating on how Vinicius is very strong mentally given all that he has overcome in his career, the former Brazilian star said,
“He is a young man who practically moved from the youth teams to Flamengo’s first team. It was necessary to have a little patience and caution. He gained confidence in himself and wrote history at the club.”
“Now, of course, he is not going through his best times, but he will get past this stage because he possesses the talent and ability. We have to wait,” he added.
On Real Madrid’s situation
The former player then opened up on Real Madrid’s situation and poor start to the season so far, saying,
“I follow from Brazil. The situation is unstable, but I hope Mourinho has enough experience to save the team.”
“I am a fan of Flamengo and Real Madrid, and I am always here in Brazil sending my positive energy,” he added.
He then acknowledged the team’s undeniable quality but stressed that they must turn their situation around swiftly.
“Yes, I think so. The team has the ability and enough time. But things cannot be allowed to continue like this for a long time.”
“Of course, there are very important players, very talented players. They must adapt, and we will see what happens,” he added.
On Endrick’s struggle at Real Madrid
Endrick of Real Madrid
Savio backed Endrick to come good. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)
Finally, Savio spoke of another young, struggling Brazilian at Real Madrid, Endrick.
“In Brazil, he was very talented. At Palmeiras, he caught my attention with his performances at a young age.”
“But of course, he is now at a different team, a very big one, so he is under great pressure, and he is still young,” he added.
Backing the striker to do well at the club, Savio concluded, saying,
“I think he has great talent that has not yet been exploited, and I hope he shines at Real Madrid because I know him, I saw him in Brazil and he has huge potential.”
Source: GOAL
Zinedine Zidane speaks about Real Madrid’s €150 million flop: ‘Sadly he had physical setbacks’
Zinedine Zidane, Former Real Madrid footballer
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Real Madrid’s period under Zinedine Zidane was golden in both the stints when the club legend arrived as a first-team manager, but his second stint was more impressive given the squad he had at his disposal and how it was half in rebuild.
One player the coach constantly admired during his time at the club was Eden Hazard, who signed for a fee of up to €150 million, and he even placed the Belgian star as his top transfer target for his new project when he returned in 2019 for his second stint at the club.
The player eventually arrived just months into Zidane’s second spell and was seen as the player who could replace Cristiano Ronaldo in the attack. From the very start, however, Hazard struggled to adapt and never really got going at the club.
There were some highs Zidane and Hazard enjoyed together, including the 2019-20 La Liga title, but the coach eventually left at the end of the 2020-21 season and Hazard made his exit after two more miserable years under Carlo Ancelotti.
Zidane speaks on the player
One of Real Madrid’s costliest mistakes. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Speaking to the media in a recent interaction, former Real Madrid coach and current Les Bleus manager Zinedine Zidane recounted the signing of Eden Hazard for Real Madrid and how the transfer ended up failing.
The Belgian star, after all, arrived amid massive expectations but failed to even remotely come close to his best at any point during his stint at the club.
Zidane extended support to Hazard and backed him despite his rough spell at Real Madrid via Football.fr, saying,
“I think me and Eden Hazard are pretty close. He is a charming guy.”
Zinedine Zidane, France manager
Zidane spoke highly of the former Belgian winger. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
“I would’ve liked for him to do more, after what he did at Chelsea, but sadly he had physical setbacks,” he added.
Speaking further on how physical setbacks, injuries and poor fitness all ended up being hurdles for the player to succeed in Spain, the club legend said,
“Because of physical issues, Eden Hazard could not give what he wanted to give [at Real Madrid].”
“But in any case, I have good memories of him. Memories of his as a player and a person,” he added.