Vinicius Junior steps up for Eduardo Camavinga as Real Madrid pressure grows

Vinicius Junior has publicly backed Eduardo Camavinga after the Real Madrid midfielder faced a wave of criticism during the club’s pre-season, underlining the Brazilian’s growing leadership role within the squad.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Vinicius has become one of Real Madrid’s most experienced players since renewing his contract and is now regarded as one of the club’s leaders.

That status brings greater responsibility for the Brazil winger, both on the pitch and in the dressing room. His increased salary is not expected to be reflected only in his performances, but also in his contribution away from matches as he helps strengthen the unity of the group.

Camavinga has been among the players attracting the most criticism during Real Madrid’s preparations for the new season. The France international has struggled to produce his best form, prompting sections of the club’s support to voice their frustration on social media.

Some fans have even called for Camavinga to leave the club.

Real Madrid would not oppose finding a solution for the midfielder, according to the report, but Camavinga does not want to depart. He remains determined to prove that he can become an important player for Mourinho.

The latest criticism came after Real Madrid’s pre-season match against Ferencvaros, when Camavinga made several mistakes while attempting to play the ball out from the back. Those errors contributed to him once again becoming one of the main targets of the supporters’ frustration.

Questions over his form also led many fans to call for Real Madrid to sign another midfielder.

Vinicius responded shortly after the match by posting a photograph of himself with Camavinga on Instagram. He added an emoji representing a “general” to the image.

The gesture appeared intended to offer the French midfielder public support at a difficult moment and show that Vinicius stands behind his team-mate despite the criticism.

As the club’s third captain, Vinicius understands better than most how difficult it can be for a Real Madrid player to cope with intense scrutiny. His decision to stand alongside Camavinga was therefore also a reflection of the responsibility he now feels towards the wider squad.

The Brazilian wants all of his team-mates to feel valued within the team and wants them to know that he will support them when circumstances become difficult.

Vinicius is already beginning to perform the duties associated with his new status. Although he does not wear the captain’s armband, his conduct suggests he increasingly sees himself as a genuine leader of the Real Madrid dressing room.