Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday that Brazilian striker Vinícius Jr. is able to compete in the Golden Ball one day. The award was won in 2021 by Lionel Messi for the seventh time in his career, beating other candidates such as merengue striker Karim Benzema.
“Vinícius has the quality to fight one day to win this award (the Golden Ball). Benzema, Modric and Courtois and the Real Madrid team have chances,” said the Italian coach at a press conference on the eve of the LaLiga game against Athletic Bilbao, at the Santiago Bernabéu.
“Vinícius Jr. knows his position in this squad very well, he knows his teammates and he doesn’t feel like a star because he’s humble. This is one of his best virtues,” he added.
“If I could have chosen the best, I would have chosen Benzema. The second would have been Vinícius, the third Courtois, the fourth Casemiro, the fifth Kroos, the sixth Camavinga… I have to respect because talking about Messi means he’s the best and it’s a personal opinion,” confessed Ancelotti.
Regarding the game at the Santiago Bernabéu against the Basque team, Ancelotti highlighted that the Belgian Eden Hazard will be with the team, although he needs to improve his physical condition.
Real Madrid, leaders of the Spanish Championship, face Athletic Bilbao in a match corresponding to the 9th round, which was postponed by one day due to the call of South American players from the merengue club to their teams for the South American World Cup qualifiers of Qatar, in 2022.
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