Real Madrid open to Vinicius Junior sale after poor season

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 17 May 2021 19:19 BST
• 2 min read

Real Madrid are looking into the possibility of selling Brazilian wonderkid Vinicius Junior in order to raise funds this summer, according to Spanish outlet AS.

Vinicius Junior has had a torrid time this season, having scored just three goals and recorded two assists in 2020/21.

Though at times a trusted player under head coach Zinedine Zidane, his decent early-season form has taken a nosedive, while his 2021 has been littered with abject performances and a flurry of significant mistakes.

Real Madrid were recently knocked out of the Copa del Rey by minnows Alcoyano, with Los Blancos also dropping points in the championship race this past weekend when they were defeated by Levante.

In the cup game, he lost goalscorer Jose Solbes at the back post for the equalising goal, while in La Liga action a few days ago he gave away a penalty shortly after coming on to replace Eden Hazard as Madrid lost 2-1.

Vinicius Junior arrived at Real Madrid to much fanfare after the Spanish side paid Flamengo £40.6 million [€46m] to acquire his signature back in 2017, with the fee being the highest in history for a player under the age of 19 at that time.

He has simply not lived up to expectations, however, and has actually scored just seven goals in La Liga since his move from Brazil.

Things reached a low point for Vinicius Junior earlier in the campaign following a Champions League match against Gladbach.

After the game, a conversation was leaked between Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy in which the Madrid striker was heard telling his compatriot not to pass to Vinicius Junior in the second half of the European fixture.

Since that incident, he hasn’t scored for Real Madrid.

With things not only failing to improve, but actually getting worse for Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid, the club will actively try to sell him this summer.

Liverpool and Arsenal are the two clubs believed to be interested in signing him at the conclusion of the season, having previously been mentioned as potential suitors.

Madrid are looking to raise as much money from player sales as possible in order to fund a move for either Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland.