La Liga icon points out the reason behind Real Madrid megastar’s slump | OneFootball

Former Valencia and Spain goalkeeper Santiago Canizares has shared his thoughts on the struggles Vinicius Jr. is currently facing at Real Madrid.

The Brazilian forward, once considered one of the brightest talents in world football, is currently going through a rough patch that has left fans concerned.

Vinicius has had a year to forget so far. Despite starting with high expectations, his performances slowly declined.

His struggles became even clearer during the Club World Cup, where he failed to make any meaningful impact.

For a player of his quality, that was surprising and disappointing, especially since this is the same Vinicius who was close to winning the Ballon d’Or just a year ago.

The sudden change in his performances has left many wondering what went wrong. Santiago Canizares, now a regular pundit on El Partidazo de COPE, believes he knows the reason.

According to him, the pressure and attention that came after Vinicius Jr.’s brilliant season may have affected the player more than people realise.

Ballon d’Or spotlight could be the reason

Vinicius’ impact has faded over time. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Canizares explained that getting so close to the Ballon d’Or might have had a negative effect on Vinicius’ mindset.

He said, “I think the Ballon d’Or talk caused Vinicius’s performance to drop significantly.”

For young players, reaching the top level too soon can sometimes create added pressure, making it difficult to stay consistent.

The former goalkeeper also pointed out that, at the moment, many Real Madrid supporters no longer see Vinicius Jr. as untouchable.

In fact, some fans now believe the team could cope without him if his current form continues.

“That has made him, at this moment, dispensable for Madrid fans,” he added.

Real Madrid will hope Vinicius Jr. rediscovers his best version soon, as they need him firing again to compete for trophies both in Spain and Europe.