Vinicius Junior’s troubles continue after Real Madrid’s 5-1 win over RB Salzburg, as he will miss the rest of the team’s January matches.
After scoring twice against Salzburg, the Brazilian winger’s situation has taken a turn for the worse. He has been suspended for the next two matches, following a yellow card he received for diving in the penalty area during the Champions League clash. This suspension comes on top of the two-match ban he already faced in La Liga for his incident with Valencia’s goalkeeper on January 3.
With Vinicius sidelined, Real Madrid will play against Real Valladolid on January 27 and Brest on January 31 without him. His next appearance will likely come on February 1 against Espanyol Barcelona. While coach Carlo Ancelotti has other options to cover for Vinicius in these relatively straightforward fixtures, concerns are growing about the 24-year-old’s continued issues.
Vinicius was expected to mature and avoid making avoidable mistakes, but his repeated suspensions have drawn sharp criticism. Despite his two goals against Salzburg, which pushed him past 100 goals for Real Madrid, his performance couldn’t shield him from the negative media attention.
Radio Marca’s journalist Látigo Serrano voiced his frustration, saying, “He keeps making the same mistake… It’s impossible for Madrid to play in the Champions League without him. With a good Vini, they could, but he keeps making the same mistakes, even in friendlies. It drives me crazy.”
If Real Madrid faces struggles against Brest or fails to secure a direct spot in the Champions League knockout stages, Vinicius’s absence will likely become a significant talking point, and the club will need to find a way to help him make better decisions moving forward.