Sources told ESPN that Vinícius Júnior will miss all eight of Real Madrid’s games, including the derby against Atletico Madrid, after sustaining a thigh injury during Friday’s 1-0 La Liga win over Celta Vigo.
“Following tests carried out on Vini. Jr by the Real Madrid Medical Services, the player was diagnosed with an injury to the right bicep femoris muscle,” Madrid said in a statement on Monday.
“His progress will be monitored.”
Sources have told ESPN that Vinicius may be out for six weeks with the first muscle strain of his senior career.
This will cause the striker to miss six La Liga matches against Getafe, Real Sociedad, Atletico, Las Palmas, Girona and Osasuna, as well as the first two matches of Madrid’s Champions League group stage.
Vinicius will also miss Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru in September.
The striker was substituted in the 18th minute against Celta Vigo after feeling uncomfortable on the run.
“He wants to continue. It’s not too serious,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti after the match.
“I thought he would be back after the international break. It’s a shame, he started well, he looked unstoppable.”
Madrid started the 2023-24 season with only three senior strikers in their first team namely Vinicius, Rodrygo and summer signing Joselu.
Ancelotti responded by deploying a 4-4-2 formation instead of his usual 4-3-3, with Vinicius and Rodrygo playing up front.
The team’s top scorer so far is Jude Bellingham, a new signing from Dortmund, with four goals in three league games.
Ancelotti said on Friday that Madrid would not try to strengthen in the final few days of the transfer window, despite Vinicius’ injury.
“The attack was covered up,” said Ancelotti. “The data speaks for itself. We have scored six goals. Without Karim [Benzema], without Vinicius, we have the resources up front.”
