Samuel Umtiti says he feels sorry for Vinicius Junior, claiming the Real Madrid forward has been struggling for several months and is no longer the intimidating presence he once was.
The Brazil international has come under increasing criticism after a sustained dip in form. Vinicius, previously regarded as one of the most decisive players in world football, has struggled to reproduce the performances that made him such a key figure for Real Madrid.
Former Barcelona defender Umtiti voiced his concern during an interview with French radio station RMC.
“I feel sorry for him. He has not been at his best for months,” Umtiti said. “He is struggling with his finishing and missing a lot of chances. He no longer has that frightening presence.”
Umtiti suggested Vinicius’ decline could be linked to the disappointment he experienced after failing to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
“He was affected a lot after not winning the Ballon d’Or,” added the former France international. “It is difficult to recover the spark that Vinicius had before.”
Umtiti believes the Brazilian has lost much of the quality that previously made opponents wary of facing him.
Former Real Madrid player Predrag Mijatovic also considers Vinicius to be well below his usual level. He believes increased competition for places and the pressure that comes with it may be contributing to the forward’s difficulties.
“In the past, he did not have any real competition for his position, but now he does, and that is clearly visible,” Mijatovic told Cadena SER.
“He is playing under a great deal of pressure because he wants to make the difference at every moment. At the moment, he is a long way from his best.”
Despite his assessment of Vinicius’ current form, Mijatovic remains confident the 26-year-old can recover and return to being a decisive player for Real Madrid.
“I think he needs to remain calm,” he said. “There is still a long season ahead and, if he focuses on improving, he can definitely become a decisive player again.”
Mijatovic also suggested Jose Mourinho could be the right manager to help Vinicius deal with the situation.
The comments come as Vinicius faces growing scrutiny over his performances, with the Brazil forward struggling to match the level he previously established at Real Madrid.
