The Real Madrid winger spoke together with Rodrygo about their jersey number changes.
Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo pose with their new jersey numbers.
Vinicius and Rodrygo. Rodrygo and Vinicius. An inseparable duo both on and off the field. Both signed with Real Madrid the same season from Brazil. Now, the two are forced to take a step forward after the losses in attack of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio and Eden Hazard. Something that has been reflected in their change of numbers: the ‘7’ for Vinicius and the ’11’ for Rodrygo. Two numbers with a lot of history for Los Blancos.
Two numbers different from the others
“I’m very grateful to wear this jersey that many other great players have worn”, Vinicius said. “It means a lot to me. It’s a number that I’ve liked since I was a child”, revealed Rodrygo. For both of them, numerous footballers that have played with those numbers at Madrid come to mind, but there is always one who serves as a role model and reference.
“I am inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo because I’ve watched all of his games and he marked an era at the club. He’s an idol for me”, Vinicius confessed. Rodrygo, for his part, stays with Paco Gento: “He won six Champions Leagues and it would be an honor to be able to stay close to that achievement.”
Vinicius and Rodrygo hoist the Copa del Rey trophy.
A duo that complements each other
When they were asked about each other, they were overcome with an innocent and unavoidable smile. “The best thing about Rodrygo is how he understands the game, his quality and what he does on the field,” says the former Flamengo player. “The best thing about Vini is that he always goes one on one, wherever it is,” adds Rodrygo.
Lastly, they were asked for a word to portray the pair of attackers they make up. For Vinicius it is “incredible”, while Rodrygo defines it as “a complete duo”.