La Liga: Real Madrid Coach Ancelotti Confirms Vinicius Will Stay

Last summer, several parties had emerged with interest to take the Brazilian to the Saudi Pro League; the story cropped up again in Spanish press with accounts of a record world offer reportedly 350 million euros (367 million US dollars) for a player.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti downplayed rumors on Friday that winger Vinicius Jr could be in for a big-money move to Saudi Arabia in the summer and claimed the forward is going anywhere.

Last summer, several parties had emerged with interest to take the Brazilian to the Saudi Pro League; the story cropped up again in Spanish press with accounts of a record world offer reportedly 350 million euros (367 million US dollars) for a player.

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According to Xinhua, Kylian Mbappe's ever-improving form – and the fact the French forward has played in his favourite role on the left of the Real Madrid attack in Vinicius' absence – has lent further credibility to the story.

However, speaking to the press ahead of Saturday's La Liga game at Real Valladolid, Ancelotti was having none of it.

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As far as I know – and I have direct information from the player, is that he is very happy here and he wants to make history at Real Madrid," replied the coach to a question over Vinicius' future.

"Everyone is happy here and we want to make history," he added.

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Vinicius will miss Saturday’s game due to suspension after he was shown a red card for aggression in his side’s win in Valencia on January 3, and he will also miss next week’s Champions League visit to Brest after his yellow card against Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday night led to a suspension for accumulation of bookings.

"He (Vinicius) is the same as always," insisted Ancelotti, adding that Vinicius' suspensions would "be good for him to recover and to work calmly. He'll take advantage of these days and be fresh at the key moments."

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"He is a player who is indispensable, there is no doubt about that," he concluded.

Real Madrid tops the La Liga rankings by 46 points after 20 games, which is followed by Atletico Madrid with 44 points after 20 games. Barcelona takes third place with 39 points.

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