Carlo Ancelotti hopeful Vinicius Junior injury is not serious

  • The Brazilian taken off after just 18 minutes against Celta Vigo with apparent hamstring injury
  • Real Madrid went on to win the game thanks to Jude Bellingham's late winner
  • Carlo Ancelotti offers encouraging update on when Vinicius may return
Vinicius Junior picked up an injury against Celta Vigo
Vinicius Junior picked up an injury against Celta Vigo / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages
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Carlo Ancelotti admitted Vinicius Junior will likely miss Real Madrid's clash with Getafe after he limped off in Friday's 1-0 win over Celta Vigo.

Jude Bellingham scored the only goal of the game with eight minutes left on the clock, continuing his superb start to life in Madrid following his £103m move from Borussia Dortmund.

The win maintained Madrid's perfect start to the new La Liga season, but they dealt a blow in the 18th minute when Vinicius pulled up lame with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. He was immediately withdrawn by Ancelotti, who offered somewhat of an encouraging update on when the Brazilian may return to action.

"Vinicius has had a discomfort in the first half and we changed him, in the next few hours we will know what he has," Ancelotti said. "He wanted to continue, so I don't think it was something very serious. He tried, it bothered him a little bit and I changed him.

"He won't play for sure against Getafe, but I think he will be able to after the (international) break. Without him, obviously, it was a bit more difficult, also because they played very well at the back".

Vinicius' injury came hours after Ancelotti told the press that he does not envisage Madrid making any more signings before the transfer window closes, despite rumours of a late bid for Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe.

"I think our roster is closed and everyone is focused on this season," the multi-time Champions League winning boss told reporters. "Players can change their minds, but I'm not worried about this."

In a separate interview with Radio Serie A, Ancelotti also remarked that he was not concerned by the lack of a direct replacement for the departed Karim Benzema, suggesting Bellingham, who has now scored four goals in his first three La Liga games, is capable of filling the void.

"We believe that the arrival of Bellingham covers the absence of Karim [Benzema]. He is a serious, mature boy with a lot of quality. What he is doing is not surprising to those of us who know him, what is surprising is that he is only 20 years old."


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