Vinicius Junior prepares to join Real Madrid

Sao Paulo, June 14: Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, who was recently sold by Flamengo to Real Madrid, played in what was likely his last match in Brazil before joining the Spanish football club.

Vinicius had several opportunities to score against Palmeiras in Sao Paulo's Allianz Parque during the 90 minutes he was on the field on Wednesday, although none came to fruition. In an interview published in the O Globo newspaper this week, the forward, whose transfer set Real Madrid back 45 million euros ($52.32 million), said he would travel to the Spanish capital "with his whole family" and live in La Moraleja, an affluent residential neighbourhood where his countrymen and future teammates Marcelo and Casemiro live.

Vinicius, who will turn 18 in July, said he "can speak some Spanish" since a private tutor had been teaching him "for three months." IANS