The latest comments on the part of Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti regarding his plans for Vinícius Jr. have piqued widespread attentions on Sunday.
As much comes with the Italian having hinted that the imminent arrival of Kylian Mbappé in Madrid will not have an impact on the role of his star wide-man.
The subject of the predicted effect of Mbappé linking up with Real on the rest of the club’s attacking stars has of course long proven a headline talking point at the Santiago Bernabéu.
With the Frenchman expected to put pen to paper on terms with Los Blancos any day now, a major shake-up is likely to be in store for the 2023/24 campaign.
One member of Real’s frontline who looks unlikely to have his position in the club’s XI altered, however, comes in the form of the aforementioned Vinícius.
With the Brazilian, and Mbappé, both favouring the left flank to weave their magic, it had been suggested in the media that Vinícius could find himself shifted to the right, or even the bench, upon PSG’s talisman landing in Spain’s capital this summer.
Speaking in a press conference today, however, Carlo Ancelotti appeared to rule out the possibility of as much, in confirming his intention to field Vinícius ‘where he is most comfortable’:
“I think Vini can play inside, not as a centre-forward but with a pair of forwards, but I think we have to take into account that he is very comfortable playing out wide. He has improved a lot in that sometimes he comes much more inside to find space in central areas. I want to put a player of his quality where he is most comfortable, which is the left wing.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
