Vinicius Junior: I am sure God will honour my hard work LaLiga - Real Madrid Spoke to MARCA before joining the Real Madrid squad

Signed as one of the world's most expensive teenagers, Vinicius Junior is finally set to make the move from Brazil to Spain and join the Real Madrid squad.

The 45 million euro fee could turn out to be a bargain if he can maintain the form which saw him bag 10 goals in 48 games for Flamengo.

Ahead of joining up with Real Madrid to begin his career in Europe, the 17-year-old spoke exclusively to MARCA.

How has your last year in Rio and with Flamengo been?

"It's been a year where I've played minutes, learned a lot and I managed to become a starter in the Brazilian championship and in the Copa Libertadores. It's inexplicable for me at my age and also for my training. All the professionals at Flamengo have helped me a lot."

Does it weigh on you knowing what you're worth at 45 million euros?

"I never think about money, I think about playing, enjoying myself and giving the team pride that I'm wearing the shirt."

Your transfer to Madrid was historic. You were the most expensive player under 18 years old ever in football. Did many friends, family and other people take an interest after that?

"They always appear, but my father and my family protect me from everything bad so I'm left with people who have always support me and have always been with me from the start."

You were born in San Goncalo, which is a humble city in the state of Rio de Janeiro. How would you describe it?

"Sao Goncalo is very humble. There I was always playing with my friends on the street and I only went home to sleep. I could come to Rio and bring my family and friends here. Being able to give them a better life is priceless."

On top of playing football, you love stars. What do you remember about your life before all this?

"I played football in the street, watched stars... What all children do. I was very happy."

You've always said that the psychological factors are very important. How have the Flamengo psychologists helped you? What did they say to you?

"There was a project for me. I've always spoken with the psychologist, at least one day a week. He helped me quite a lot. They convinced me that the plan Flamengo made for me would go well. I always trusted them, in older people with more experience."

Are you scared you won't reach the huge expectations that have been created for you?

"No. I know what my potential is, I know how far I can go. I only have to work a lot, carry on as I Have until now with Flamengo. I'm sure God will honour me."

You're leaving Flamengo, the most loved and equally most hated club in Brazil, to join Real Madrid, which is the same in Spain. Do you feel under pressure?

"No, people who come through Flamengo's youth system are used to pressure. Playing in the youth team for the national team helps a lot. I've spent some time evolving and learning how to handle the pressure and the responsibility. I know that Real Madrid is a different club, one of the biggest in the world. I'm going to leave the biggest club in Brazil for the biggest club in Spain. Wearing Real Madrid's shirt will be priceless."

You've suffered from racism in Brazil, do you fear it could happen again in Spain?

"No, I don't see much of that. Ulysses [his uncle] is who sees more of these things. I try to see the least I can on the internet to be focused always on my football. All I see are videos of players who inspire me."

How was your first trip to Madrid to get to know what would be your new club?

"I spent four days there and got to know the club a bit. Only my parents and agents had been. I went to the training ground, spoke to some players and did a tour of the [Estadio] Santiago Bernabeu."

What impressed you the most?

"Everything. Everything that the club has inside, everything good it has to offer players. Being at the Bernabeu is something I've always dreamt about and soon I hope to make that dream come true."

What shocks you the most about your new life in Madrid?

"Only the nostalgia I will feel for Brazil and my friends. The rest of things will be better there."

Do you know where you will live? Do you have a house?

"No, my family are taking care of that."

What will you miss most about Rio de Janeiro?

"Rio de Janeiro is my home. The sun, the beach, which I like a lot, being close to my friends. Unfortunately I can't take them all to Madrid, but whenever they have time they'll come to visit me."

Do you know how long Real Madrid have been following you?

"No, but for some time."

Some say they have tracked you since you were 12-years-old...

"Yes, more or less. Juni [Calafat] always followed me and after a while managed to take me to the biggest team in the world. "

There were many teams interested in you, weren't there?

"Yes, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona among others. They were always in touch with us. In the end, we waited for the right time and the right team."

When you chose Real Madrid, did you feel freedom, fear... What was your feeling?

"Joy. I felt that I was making my boyhood dream come true, that I was going to a club that all the best players in the world want to be at. The best are there. I can't explain the happiness I felt when I signed the contract with Real Madrid."

What did you know about the club? What image did you have?

"That they have a lot of titles and that a lot of Brazilian players have been there, like Ronaldo Nazario and Roberto Carlos, who gave joy to Real Madrid and were idols for the fans. "

Did something change in your mind the first time you walked onto the Bernabeu pitch?

"The stadium impressed me a lot. We went to a game but in the visit it impressed me a lot too. My brother was with me. We did a really good tour there and it impressed us even more."

The game you went to was the Clasico were Madrid had no luck and ended up losing. How do you remember it?

"It was the others who were with me that gave them bad luck, that was what happened [laughs]. Ulysses and Lucas [his agent], those guys give bad luck..."

Then, ask that they don't go when you play...

"When I play it's different, but when they go to see other teams it doesn't go well [laughs]."

Do you know what the difference is between a Madridista and a Madrileno?

"No..."

Did you ever have a Real Madrid shirt before signing?

"Only when I signed. Juni [Calafat] gave me one as a gift."

Who are you most looking forward to playing with?

"Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo... Everyone."

Other Real Madrid players who are very good include Isco, Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez... What has impressed you most from those?

"Their quality. I've always followed Asensio, I hope he's successful, I score lots of goals against Ulysses with him when I play against him on the games console [laughs]. He's one of a kind who will be fighting for the Ballon d'Or."

Have you imagined giving assists to Cristiano, sharing goals with him?

"Yes, yes, I've imagined many things and now I am even more anxious for the time to come."

You won't be the only young Brazilian to join Real Madrid. Rodrygo will come too. What do you think of him?

"I've known him since 2015 when we played a season together. I always knew he was different. With time he has evolved and got to a great level. With the age he has, I think he will be a great player."

After knowing he signed, have you spoken to him?

"I spoke to him before to ask him to sign for Real Madrid. I was anxious for him to sign with us, he did it and chose the right side."

You know him best, you've seen him play many times... What's he like?

"It's a phenomenon that God chose him too. From here for some time being able to play with him is an honour. He's always followed me, he always wanted me to be a success, I even think he's a bit of a fan of me [laughs]. He always followed me in the youth team, he sent me messages to congratulate me. I want things to go well for him because he's a player with my characteristics and it will be a pleasure to play for Real Madrid next to him. I dream about making history at Real Madrid and with Brazil with him."

In the last year you've had four different coaches at Flamengo, how has that instability been?

"I've tried to learn from them all, picking up a bit of experience from each one because they have completely different characteristics. I played under Ze Ricardo since the youth team, he helped me a lot at the start of my career, he was the one to first pick me to play in the professional team. [Reinaldo] Rueda came with experience and baggage from outside Brazil, he brought new ideas and innovations, that was a pleasure."

"[Paulo Cesar] Carpegiani helped me a lot too, he helped me to play on the right, the side I'm not used to playing on, he helped me to improve, so much so that I scored twice against Emelec in that position. Mauricio [Barbieri] is starting now and he will be a great coach in the future."

You had the dream of working with Zinedine Zidane but he left... How did you take the news?

"I was a bit sad. Having a coach who played like Zidane must be very different. Marcelo told me he was a really nice guy and that he does anything for the team."

Zidane now has a replacement and the new coach will be Julen Lopetegui. Does that give you hope?

"Yes, a lot. It helps me and Rodrygo who will come to Madrid at 18 years old."

Do you think you're ready to play in the first team at Real Madrid?

"I don't know, I haven't trained with them yet. When I get there I will try to adapt as quickly as possible and form part of the squad."

Is it true that Real Madrid can't loan you to a European club?

"No, it's not true. That's something the press say, but it's not like that. Real Madrid will look at what is best for me, for my planning, to develop as quickly as possible and return with the technique that the team deserves."

If they decide to loan you out after pre-season and you can give your opinion, what would you prefer: going back to Flamengo for another season or playing in another team to get used to European football?

"I prefer to play for Real Madrid, but they will see what is best for me. If they decide that it's best for me to stay to adapt to Spanish football and the climate, which is different, I will accept it and work hard to develop and get back as soon as possible."

This year has seen lots of league games too. What are the biggest differences between Brazilian and Spanish football for you?

"Many things, many things... Even the pitches are different. Tactically it's very different. You have to link up with the full-back a lot, that is something that caught my attention at Flamengo. I've developed in that since I came to the first team. In Spain there are the best players, playing alongside the best on both sides, for the team you're playing for and against, it's the biggest difference."

And now it's the World Cup. Do you have any childhood memory? What's the first you saw?

"I don't remember much to be honest, but Ronaldinho's goal from near the halfway line comes to mind."