Former Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has voiced his disappointment over Vinicius Junior’s recent performances, admitting he feels sorry for the Real Madrid forward as he struggles to rediscover his best form.
The Frenchman believes the Brazilian winger has lost the confidence and attacking threat that previously made him one of the most dangerous players in European football.
Umtiti shared his assessment while discussing Real Madrid’s encounter against AEK Athens on Spanish radio station Cadena SER, where he expressed concern about Vinicius’ prolonged dip in performance.
“I feel sorry for him. It saddens me,” Umtiti said. “Vinicius hasn’t been at his best for weeks, months, even seasons. It’s clear he lacks the confidence he once had on the left wing.”
The former France international, who came up against Vinicius on several occasions during his time at Barcelona, explained that opposing defenders no longer appear as worried when the Brazilian gets possession.
“In the past, when he received the ball, you knew he would pose a threat. Now, he no longer has that,” he added.
According to Umtiti, Vinicius has also become less effective in possession, with frequent turnovers and a lack of sharpness in front of goal affecting his overall contribution.
“He loses the ball a lot, and he no longer strikes fear into opponents,” the former Barcelona defender continued.
Umtiti also raised concerns about the tactical challenges facing Real Madrid, particularly the decision to accommodate Vinicius on the left flank when other players are competing for opportunities in the starting lineup.
He questioned whether the Spanish giants should continue prioritising the Brazilian or introduce a system where players earn their positions based on current performances.
“What do we do with Vinicius?” he asked, before explaining the difficulties associated with the team’s attacking arrangement.
“When you put him on the left, it means you put Diomande on the right, where we know Diomande does not perform well and struggles.”
Umtiti believes Real Madrid must decide whether to establish genuine competition for places or maintain a clear hierarchy that guarantees Vinicius a regular position.
“Either we move into a system of clear competition between the players, and the best plays, or there is a hierarchy that forces Vinicius to keep playing on the left wing for now.
“In the end, results are the deciding factor, and Real Madrid are winning, but Vinicius is no longer at that level, neither in La Liga nor in the Champions League. I feel very sorry for Vinicius.”
The former defender also identified Vinicius’ failure to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or as a possible turning point in the winger’s career.
Vinicius had been widely considered one of the leading contenders for the prestigious individual award, but ultimately missed out, an outcome Umtiti believes affected his confidence and subsequent performances.
“Over the past three seasons, and since he did not win the Ballon d’Or, his level has been affected,” Umtiti concluded, “and we are finding it difficult to recover the lively, dribbling Vinicius on the left wing.”
Umtiti’s comments underline the growing concerns surrounding Vinicius’ form, with the Real Madrid forward facing pressure to rediscover the consistency, confidence and attacking influence that once made him a nightmare for opposition defenders.
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