How Vinicius's nationality changes Real Madrid's transfer strategy
FT Desk
- 5 Sept 2022 15:54 BST
- 3 min read
Vinicius Junior has been granted Spanish citizenship - a nice benefit for the player and a huge one for the club.
Vinicius has blossomed into one of the best players in world football at Real Madrid, last season plundering 22 goals and 20 assists in all competitions as los Blancos won La Liga and the Champions League.
A €46 million arrival from Flamengo in 2018, Vinicius joined a stable of Brazilian teammates which at the time also included Marcelo and Casemiro, with Rodrygo following his countryman to the Spanish capital the following year.
In case you needed any confirmation Vinicius Junior was Brazilian... pic.twitter.com/7iD8Z1hxES
— Football España (@footballespana_) August 27, 2022
Marcelo and Casemiro both had Spanish citizenship before leaving for Olympiacos and Manchester United respectively this summer, and Vinicius has now followed suit.
"Real Madrid CF announces that our Brazilian player Vinicius Junior swore to the Spanish Constitution last Friday, September 2, so from that moment he also has Spanish nationality," read an official statement on the European champions' club website.
Why does it matter?
La Liga rules state that Real Madrid can only field three non-EU players in any given game. With Rodrygo and Eder Militao also in the squad, Vinicius alongside them meant their quota was maxed out.
This was part of the reason Real missed out on signing Gabriel Jesus in June, the forward instead leaving Manchester City for Arsenal in a €52m deal. With Vinicius now legally Spanish, more Brazilians could be inbound.
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Real are known to retain an interest in Palmeiras wonderkid Endrick - scorer of seven goals in seven games in January's Copa Sao Paulo de Futebol Junior.
Although the 16-year-old striker can't leave Brazil for Europe for another two years, Real are keeping tabs and the likelihood is that each of Vinicius, Rodrygo and Militao will still be there if he does sign.
Vinicius's new passport means that Real could field all four when the time comes.
