Brazil and Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior is known for his pace and directness on the pitch, while also being infamous for his attitude against players and fans. And he has been told to emulate former Los Blancos superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in the near future.
Sami Khedira Urges Vinicius to Mirror Cristiano Ronaldo’s Shift From Ego to Leader
During a recent interaction with AS, former Real Madrid and Juventus defensive midfielder Sami Khedira was asked to share his thoughts on the 25-year-old’s displays this season. The German noted that Vinicus has been given a lot of freedom by the incumbent coach, Alvaro Arbeloa, in recent times.
“With (Carlo) Ancelotti, Vinicius came close, deservedly so, to winning the Ballon d’Or. With Xabi (Alonso), he was more constrained by the system, because (Alonso’s) teams prioritize the collective over the individual. (Alvaro) Arbeloa has freed him up in a different way, and that’s already noticeable on the pitch,” the German initially responded.
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Despite starting the ongoing 2025-26 season on a slow note, the Brazilian has been in fine form of late. He has found the back of the net five times in his last four games for his club. However, he was recently on the receiving end of an alleged racist abuse.
Asked to opine on Benfica star Gianluca Prestianni reportedly calling Vinicius ‘a monkey’ in a UEFA Champions League play-off game last week, Khedira condemned racism.
“The truth is, nobody knows exactly what happened. We all agree that racism has no place anywhere, not even in the stands. If that word was uttered, it is intolerable and must result in a severe punishment after an investigation,” the 38-year-old commented.
Queried if the Real Madrid star’s provocative goal celebration was to blame for the incident, Khedira disagreed and urged the Brazilian to follow in the footsteps of Ronaldo.
“They’re (two different things.) That Vini sometimes provokes people isn’t new. He must be aware he’s a role model for millions of children… just like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi were. Cristiano also showed a lot of ego in the beginning… until he understood his impact and assumed a leadership role. That’s the next step for Vini,” Khedira replied.
After scoring the winner in his side’s 1-0 UEFA Champions League play-off first leg win over Benfica on Tuesday, Vinicius will next be in action against Benfica this Wednesday. On the other hand, Prestianni is set to serve his provisional one-match suspension.
The Flamengo academy graduate will be hoping to continue his run of form against Benfica on Feb. 25. He has produced 12 goals and 11 assists in 36 total appearances for Ronaldo’s former club this term, operating either as a left winger or a center-forward.
