Carlo Ancelotti said that Real Madrid even without the “undisputed player” Vinicius Jr. Can win, while he also says that the player is happy at the club.
The Madridian boss spoke on Saturday prior to the LaLiga meeting of his team with Real Valladolid.
The Brazilian international received a red card against Valencia on January 3 and is currently surviving a suspension of two games.
Vinicius, who scored eight goals and seven assists in fifteen league matches, missed Madrid's 4-1 win over Las Palmas at home last weekend.
“People have forgotten that we won two Champions Leagues without Vini. He is an undisputed player,” said Ancelotti.
“The player is the same as always. It is good for him to have a few days of recovery, to take advantage and to be fresher at the most important moment of the season.”
The Brazilian came to the club in 2018 and won a handful of prizes, including three national titles and two Champions Leagues.
However, he is associated with a departure in the transfer period of January, whereby the Spanish media reported an offer of Saudi Arabia of more than 550 million dollars.
But Ancelotti said the 24-year-old wants to continue at the Laara club.
@Vinijr@Kmbappe pic.twitter.com/yxztsg5af4
– Real Madrid CF (@Realmadriden) January 24, 2025
“What is difficult for me, since I have direct information about the player is that he is very happy here and want to write history at Madrid. We are happy here and we want to write history,” says the 65-year-old.
“You have to ask him. I don't know if this offer is coming or not. He writes history here and he wants to continue like this.”
Madrid won each of the last six encounters with Valladolid, where their opponents did not score once. It is their longest series without scoring against Madrid in the competition.
The team of Ancelotti, who already played seven games in 2025, is at the top of the LaLiga classification with 46 points from twenty games – two points ahead of the second placed Atletico Madrid.
They will also have to do without Eduardo Camavinga for the game, but Aurelien Tchouameni, who sprained his left ankle during a Champions League match against AC Milan last November, will return to the selection.
“We give the competition the importance it deserves, we have to keep the leadership and prepare the best possible team,” said the Italian tactician.
“It is true that it is a demanding schedule, but little by little we get into the right rhythm. The goal is clear, we have become leaders and we have to keep our position.”
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