Vinicius Junior was unable to participate in Brazil’s training session on Saturday after suffering a muscle injury during Wednesday’s friendly match against France.
Brazil lost the match 2-1, and Vinicius played without complaining of any pain. However, hours later, he had to undergo medical tests to determine the extent of the thigh muscle strain.
Brazilian media reported that Vinicius is suffering from muscle fatigue in his thigh, which led Carlo Ancelotti to exclude him from Saturday’s training session. The player instead worked out in the gym.
The injury is not serious, despite Real Madrid’s concerns. His exclusion from training was a precautionary measure to prevent further pain and a potentially longer absence from the pitch.
Initially, Vinicius could participate in the final match of this international break against Croatia. However, it is likely that Ancelotti will either use him as a substitute or leave him out entirely to avoid any setbacks before returning to Madrid.
Real Madrid desperately needs Rafinha’s services in the upcoming period, which includes a number of crucial matches, most notably against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, as well as the remaining La Liga fixtures where Los Blancos trail league leaders Barcelona by four points.
It’s worth noting that Barcelona’s Rafinha suffered a serious injury during the Brazil-France match, forcing him to leave Ancelotti’s squad and return to Spain. His absence is estimated to be a maximum of five weeks.
