Vinicius Junior needs calm to rediscover his decisive edge, says former Barcelona defender Umtiti

Samuel Umtiti says Vinicius Junior has been struggling for several months and believes the Real Madrid forward has lost the spark that once made him one of football’s most feared players.

The Brazil international has come under increasing criticism during a difficult spell, with his performances falling well short of the level that previously allowed him to change matches for Real Madrid.

Umtiti, the former Barcelona defender, expressed his concern during an interview with French radio station RMC.

“I feel sorry for him,” Umtiti said. “He has not been at his best for months. He is struggling with his finishing and missing a lot of chances. He no longer has that frightening presence.”

The Frenchman suggested Vinicius’ decline may be linked to the disappointment he experienced after missing out on the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

“He was affected a lot after he did not win the Ballon d’Or,” Umtiti added. “It is difficult to recover the spark that Vinicius used to have.”

Umtiti also believes the forward has lost much of the quality that previously made opponents wary whenever he received the ball.

Vinicius’ current form has also been assessed by Predrag Mijatovic, the former Real Madrid player, who agrees that the Brazilian is some distance from his usual standard.

Mijatovic believes greater competition for a place and the pressure that comes with it are affecting Vinicius’ performances. The player is now expected to make a decisive contribution in every moment, he said, rather than operating in a position where his place was previously secure.

“Before, he did not have real competition for his position, but now it exists, and that is clearly visible,” Mijatovic told Cadena SER. “He is playing under a lot of pressure because he wants to be decisive at every moment. At present, he is a long way from his best level.”

Despite the concerns surrounding the forward, Mijatovic remains confident that Vinicius can recover and return to being a key player for Real Madrid.

“I think he needs to remain calm,” he said. “The season is still long and, if he focuses on improving, he can certainly become a decisive player again.”

Mijatovic also suggested that Jose Mourinho could be the right manager to deal with Vinicius’ current situation.