Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Vinicius Junior will be “choosing glory” by staying at the Spanish club rather than making a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
Vinicius Junior has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League for some time, and it was reported earlier this month that clubs in the Middle East were still keeping tabs on him ahead of a possible swoop.
But Ancelotti is confident the 24-year-old will remain with Los Blancos and help the team chase more titles.
“I understand everything in football,” Ancelotti said in a press conference on Tuesday.
“I understood Toni Kroos retiring from football [last season]. Not many people understood it, but I did. I understand everything.”
He added: “They’re individual decisions. “But to me, the player [Vinicius] looks happy and excited about staying here and winning trophies with Real Madrid.
“I think he’s thinking about choosing glory.”
Vinicius has been electric in front of goal this season, with 16 goals in 26 matches across all competitions.
He has seven goals in six UEFA Champions League outings this season, which included an emphatic second-half hat-trick in a remarkable comeback win against Borussia Dortmund.
Despite being the current champions, Madrid’s future hangs in the balance with a potential play-off tie looming. They are currently one point off the top eight, which is where they need to finish for an automatic route to the last 16.
However, Madrid’s biggest problem is that seven teams separate them in 16th and Bayer Leverkusen in eighth. Those teams include Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa, who are all vying for a top-eight finish.
