Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior is set to miss Brazil’s October international fixtures after sustaining a neck injury during Saturday’s La Liga victory over Villarreal.
Vinicius Jr was replaced after 79 minutes at the Bernabeu and underwent assessments on Sunday.
Madrid confirmed he had suffered a “cervical injury” and the club’s medical team also advised against him taking a long-haul flight to join up with the Brazil squad this week given his condition.
Sources close to the player expect him to be available to return for Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Celta Vigo on October 19.
Brazil play Chile and Peru in World Cup qualifiers on October 10 and October 15.
Following this month’s international break, Madrid face Celta Vigo in La Liga and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League before hosting Barcelona in El Clasico on October 26.
Vinicius Jr had scored his side’s second goal during Saturday’s win over Villarreal six minutes before he was forced off. The 24-year-old forward has provided four goals and seven assists in 12 appearances in all competitions this season.
Madrid also lost Dani Carvajal to a long-term injury during Saturday’s La Liga fixture, with the right-back set for surgery after rupturing two ligaments and a tendon in his right knee.
Madrid have contended with a number of injury problems this season, with Brahim Diaz and Thibaut Courtois already sidelined.
Ahead of the newly-expanded Champions League format beginning last month, Ancelotti called the calendar “too demanding”, and he blamed the fixture schedule for Carvajal’s injury.
“The dressing room is sad and worried,” Ancelotti said. “It’s because of the calendar. And it has happened to a very important player for us.”
(Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images)
