Real Madrid: Vinícius Júnior earns his first call up to the Brazilian national team
By Ben Sundock
Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior will be sporting the iconic yellow and blue kits of the Seleção Brasileira for the upcoming international break. At just 18, the prodigy is way ahead of where many thought he would be.
If you haven’t been following the Vinícius hype in the Spanish capital over the last two months, you must not be a true football fan. The wickedly quick and technical dribbler has been a regular starter under manager Santiago Solari and has played so well he has earned himself a call up to the Brazilian national team.
With Neymar Jr. still rehabbing from a serious ankle injury, Brazil manager and football legend, Tite, chose to call up Vinícius for matches against the Czech Republic and Panama at the end of March.
Vinícius will join some elite company on the forward line with the three other players called up. Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus, and Richarlison have been regular contributors for their respective clubs and can teach the young Vini a lot.
Vinícius has already earned respect on the international level after winning the Copa America for the Brazilian U-15 and U-17 teams. Júnior will be joined by Real Madrid teammate Casemiro and three other La Liga players – Arthur (Barcelona), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), and Philipe Coutinho (Barcelona).
The other Brazilian Madrid player, Marcelo, did not receive the call-up after finding himself relegated to the bench with regularity with Sergio Reguilón earning the manager’s trust.
This is a huge moment for the Madrid man who wears the number 28 and he has a very good chance to impress against two weaker sides and with fewer players to compete with for a starting position.
Tite has been known to run a 4-3-3 with Neymar on the left, Jesus or Firmino in the middle, and a rotating player on the right side (it could be Richarlison or Willian).
The world will soon start to take notice of Júnior’s skills on the international level after seeing how great he has been on the club level. I simply can’t stop writing about this kid and the incredible things he is doing.
Don’t be surprised if you see more and more about Vinícius Júnior.