Why Real Madrid could delay the return of Vinicius Jr from injury

• Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior picked a hamstring injury last month
• The club initially announced an expected rehabilitation of six weeks for the winger
• Madrid is however contemplating allowing him to stay out for long to avoid further setbacks

Real Madrid is considering delaying the return of Vinicius Junior from injury until the latter part of October, contrary to previous reports in Spain. The young Brazilian forward, who was recently named as one of the nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury during Madrid’s La Liga victory over Celta Vigo last month.

Initially, it was anticipated that Vinicius would be out of action for a minimum of six weeks. However, hopes were raised when a report from Marca suggested that his return was being aimed for the city derby against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on September 24th.

The optimism generated by this report was short-lived as conflicting information emerged from AS, indicating that a more cautious approach is now being taken regarding Vinicius’s return. His original return date was set for early October, coinciding with Osasuna’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, rushing his return could potentially jeopardize his availability for the Brazil national team’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America later in the month.

READ: Why Real Madrid are worried of Vinicius Junior injury

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior picked up a hamstring injury last month during a La Liga match. | PHOTO: Marca |

Real Madrid is now contemplating the idea of postponing Vinicius’s return until after the October international break. This would give him additional time to fully recover and regain his fitness.

The target date for his comeback would then be the team’s match against Sevilla on October 22nd. While this approach would result in a longer absence, it could significantly reduce the risk of future setbacks.

Vinicius had been a key contributor to Real Madrid’s early-season success, featuring prominently in their opening La Liga wins against Athletic Club and Almeria last month. He even managed to find the back of the net in the latter match.

Despite his absence due to injury, the team has continued to perform well, largely thanks to the outstanding performances of their summer signing, Jude Bellingham.

In conclusion, Real Madrid is carefully considering when to bring Vinicius Junior back into action following his hamstring injury. While there was initially hope for a speedy return, conflicting reports and the potential risks associated with rushing his recovery have prompted the club to contemplate delaying his comeback until after the October international break.

This decision would allow Vinicius to fully recover and reduce the chances of further setbacks, while the team continues to thrive with the impressive performances of Jude Bellingham, who has quickly become a key player for Real Madrid this season.