REAL MADRID
Real Madrid could be without Vinicius for a month
Vinicius and Rodrygo have been called up for Brazil's under-20 side and could feature at the South American under-20 tournament at the start of next year.
The signings of young Brazilian players, Vinicius and Rodrygo, have been a boon for the club as the excitement around them both continues to swell. The pair could be called by under-20 manager, Carlos Amadeu, for the South American tournament after being called for the friendlies against Chila on Saturday and Monday.
The tournament will take place from January 20th until February 13th and with Rodrygo touted to arrive in Madrid at Christmas to compete for Real Madrid's Castilla side, both could be lost for a month if the latter arrives at all with his potential involvement in Amadeu's side.
Vinicius getting minutes and could be a loss
Vinicius has played against Atlético Madrid and Alavés in back-to-back games having not appeared in any of the opening six league games. He is starting to get minutes under Lopetegui and will be a loss if he has to go if his role continues to grow. Rodrygo is a starter for Santos and is a nominee for the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player in the world.
Both players are important to Brazil's future and the Brazilian football federation needs them to win a trophy they have failed to win since 2011 and that would also qualify them for the under-20 World Cup in Poland next year. That tournament, held at the end of May, would mean another conflict of interest for Real Madrid.
The good news is that the tournament is not on FIFA's official calender and so the clubs are not obliged to release their players. That could generate friction between the players, Brazilian football and Real Madrid, however, and they might try to prevent that course of action.
