Real Madrid will assess the fitness of star winger Vinícius Júnior ahead of Saturday’s LaLiga meeting with Mallorca, as manager Álvaro Arbeloa acknowledged concerns over the Brazilian’s recent workload.
After featuring heavily for Brazil in friendlies against France and Croatia, Vinícius has returned showing signs of fatigue, prompting Real Madrid to monitor his readiness closely before naming the squad.
Arbeloa suggested that the 25‑year‑old’s intense schedule — having barely had a break since the start of the year — could necessitate rest in Mallorca.
The coach admitted that Vinícius had been heavily relied upon under Carlo Ancelotti and with Brazil, and that the demands on the forward have been extremely high.
Training updates this week showed Vinícius missing group sessions as he followed a recovery and physiotherapy plan rather than full practice, although he is not carrying a specific injury.
Real Madrid aim to balance his involvement to protect his fitness ahead of a crucial run of fixtures, including a Champions League quarter‑final against Bayern Munich next week.
Meanwhile, the return of defender Éder Militão from a long absence has provided a boost to the squad, but with nine league matches remaining, Madrid’s title hopes hinge on careful rotation and maintaining player freshness. Arbeloa stressed that every match is pivotal and that the team must manage both form and fitness to stay competitive on multiple fronts.
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