Real Madrid: Vinicius Junior headed for a breakout 2020

Real Madrid left winger Vinicius Junior is one of the best young players in world football, and he was headed for a special second half of the 2019-2020 season before the season was suspended.

In 2018-2019, Vinicius Junior burst onto the scene as a bright light for Real Madrid during an otherwise dismal season. An injury prevented the Brazilian wide forward from making more of an impact that year, but he certainly planted a seed for what was to come.

Although Vini didn’t get off to a fast start in 2019-2020, he did score a great goal in a September win over Osasuna and had a few other highlights in the first half of the season. But Zinedine Zidane wanted to take things slowly with the young winger, which turned out to be the wisest approach.

The transfer rumor mill took Vinicius’ less pronounced role in the squad as a sign that he could potentially be moved, so he was linked to Premier League clubs like Arsenal. But Real Madrid have never had any intention on signing Vinicius, whom they view as a player with the potential to be one of the world’s best in a few years.

Over the months following the winter transfer market, Vinicius Junior proved exactly why he fits Real Madrid perfectly and has sky-high potential at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 19-year-old was a difference-maker for Los Blancos and on untouchable form at times. Sevilla found it impossible to deal with him when he joined the match as a substitute in an eventual 2-1 win for Real, and he was even better as a second-half substitute one week later in El Derbi, setting up Ferland Mendy‘s game-winning assist for Karim Benzema.

But Vini saved his best for an even bigger rivalry in March, scoring the first goal in a 2-0 win over FC Barcelona. La Blaugrana simply had no answers for the young Brazil international, as he routinely found space and led counterattacks against a Barça defense that simply could not keep up with his energy. Although the Bernabeu grew frustrated with missed opportunities in the box, Vinicius eventually grabbed a goal and never gave up on himself, using his teammate’s support along the way.

Vinicius Junior filled the hole left by Eden Hazard on multiple occasions, making sure Real Madrid remained one of Europe’s best teams even without their big summer signing. The teenager’s work rate, increasing confidence, and tactical awareness were all on display, but most importantly, Vinicius never stopped looking to run at defenders and challenge them, giving Los Merengues crucial space in the attack.

When football returns in 2020, expect Vinicius to be even better. He is hungry for goals, hungry for wins, and improving as rapidly as any attacking player in world football. The Real Madrid left winger is poised to have a breakout 2020-2021 season, and Madridistas know he is just getting started en route to becoming a crucial player for the club.