In 2006, a 6-year-old boy came to a scolinha from which Flamengo draws. Carlos Eduardo Abrantes (Brazil, 1971) was the director and opened the doors for him. There, cocoanickname of our protagonist, began to mold Vinicius Junior. He was in the escolinha until he was 12 years old, although from the age of 10 he already alternated with Flamengo, who came to catch him. A talent of the many jewels that pass through the hands of cocoawith whom you not only work on their football development. “In our school we try to help, together with their families, to train citizens through sports”he explains to AS, contacted now that this 6-year-old boy has grown up, become one of the pillars of Real Madrid and Brazil in the World Cup in Qatar, with the round of 16 against South Korea on the horizon.
Neymar is between cottons and it seems that it will be up to Vinicius to take a step forward.
I have a lot of confidence in the potential of Vinicius and the national team. came is prepared for everything. Currently, the actions in the attack of Brazil do not depend only on Neymar, we have important footballers who participate a lot in the game. And those who come off the bench maintain the good level of the team.
Do you think the pressure could weigh on you a bit? In the end, it’s his first World Cup…
An athlete his age who played professionally for Flamengo at the age of 16 and is a starter for Real Madrid, who scored in the Champions League final, is already used to pressure.
Now that he talks about the Champions League. I imagine that the match against Liverpool would not be lost.
Yes, it was sensational to see Vini score the title goal, it was a real dream.
How was life there in São Gonçalo?
They only talked about the goal in the final, about the fantastic feeling that it was to experience something like that.
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Going back to the present and Vini’s ability to handle pressure. In the premiere against Serbia he already made a difference.
In the debut he was sensational, yes. He is the same Vini from ten years ago, always going forward and creating scoring situations, fantastic. They started very well and controlled the game at all times, it was impressive.
You have already said on some occasion that Vinicius as a child was always the top scorer. Did you expect the scoring explosion from him?
I always said that as soon as I had a few games as a starter I would gain confidence and that the goals would come naturally. So it has been. We have really enjoyed Vini’s success even from a distance, we are very happy for him and his entire family
Did you already see him as a child that he was someone special?
He has always attracted attention since he was a youngster. After he began to play in categories higher than those that corresponded to him by age, we began to see a promising future for him.
“Vinicius and Real Madrid were the right marriage”
He went through difficult times in Madrid. Did you ever fear that Vinicius would not be able to succeed at the white club?
No, Vinicius is a very focused, determined boy with a strong personality, Real Madrid and he were the right match (laughs).
There are no more doubts. Even Florentino Pérez said that he won’t take long to win the Ballon d’Or.
I think the Ballon d’Or will come naturally, with work and dedication.
I have read that as a child he liked to play left back. Was that so?
Our field for early ages is small, five play, tactically arranged in a kind of line, almost like in futsal. So that the movement is greater. And there, he played on the outside. He always liked to play on the left side, because he cut inside to shoot.
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He is showing that he has a lot of personality. He has won the Santiago Bernabéu and acted as a spokesman against racism. He has founded the ‘Instituto Vini Jr’ to help in São Gonçalo. Have you always been with a mature and committed guy?
He was always shy off the field. But internally he was totally different. He was always aware and connected to everything that was happening in general. São Gonçalo is a city of hard-working people who have been improving as much as possible within the context in which the country finds itself.
Do you see many t-shirts of came in the neighborhood and in your school?
Yes, today he is an inspiration for many children, an example not only of an athlete, but also of a citizen.
I understand that they still keep in touch.
Yes, we have contact, during his vacations whenever we can we meet him here in Brazil.
“The Ballon d’Or will come naturally”
Is there a new visit to Madrid planned (in 2019 they visited the capital and stayed at Vinicius’s house)?
I haven’t been able to return to Madrid yet, but as soon as I have the opportunity we will, for sure.
How does it make you feel when you read ‘Cacau, the discoverer of Vinicius’?
A very great pride. We are very proud that came has left our school in São Gonçalo.
Finally, Neymar and Vinicius have established a great friendship. Is it already the Brazil of Neymar and Vinicius?
Yes, we are very hopeful that they can have a great World Cup together.