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Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior seen as replacement by Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester United have ‘identified’ Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior as the perfect replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, according to El Nacional (h/t Manchester Evening News).
Erik ten Hag is eyeing the Brazil international. The Dutch manager wants the 22-year-old to be the successor of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner at the Old Trafford side.
Ten Hag has already held talks with Vinicius by now and the club are prepared to offer the youngster the number seven shirt in Manchester. The Brazilian’s current contract with Los Blancos is set to expire in the summer of 2024. Although, the Spanish giants are expected to keep a hold of him for longer.
The 22-year-old signed for Madrid in the summer of 2018 from Brasileirao outfit Flamengo. And the forward has slowly turned into a superstar at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Initially, Vinicius struggled to cement his place in the La Liga giants’ starting lineup. While most Madrid fans were excited about his dribbling skills and potential, the 22-year-old left a lot to be desired in front of goal.
However, last season, the Brazilian took his game to the next level. The youngster made 52 appearances in all competitions for Los Blancos, scoring 22 goals and providing 20 assists.
He scored a goal against Liverpool in the 2022 Champions League final. The game ended 1-0 as the Spanish giants got their hands on a record 14th UCL title.
It seems likely that Ronaldo will leave United after he criticised the club, manager and former teammates in his infamous interview with Piers Morgan. And Vinicius is one of the most exciting players in world football at the moment.
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The Brazilian has been in red-hot form for Madrid in the current campaign as well. However, it is evidently unlikely that Florentino Perez will let his prized asset leave the Spanish capital in the near future.
