They don't understand the Vinicius situation in Brazil LaLiga Santander - Real Madrid Flamengo and the press are confused

After the star treatment that Vinicius Junior received upon his arrival to Real Madrid, the reaction in Brazil to his lack of pitch time has been one of confusion.

Real pulled out the red carpet for the Brazilian youngster and gave him the welcome that any major new signing would expect: the speech from president Florentino Perez, the anthem, the 3,500 fans waiting to see him take his first steps on the hallowed turf.

This was a surprising reaction for a footballer that, whilst being the star of Flamengo, has only just turned 18 years old.

That Real Madrid, Champions League winners for a third consecutive season, would give him this sort of welcome does not seem in keeping with their current plans to gradually develop him step by step.

The Brazilian press, who always believed that a loan move to a smaller team would help him adapt, are surprised that Vinicius has decided to stay with Los Blancos.

Even more so when you compare the first team with the second team, as Real Madrid Castilla play in Segunda B and Vinicius is at a far higher level than that already,

Recently, another surprise: the club has registered him as a youth player. This is the star of the Brazilian championship, but it appears that Los Blancos want to keep a space open for another foreign signing who could add to their squad in the immediate future.

Confused

In his preseason debut in the Bernabeu Trophy, the fans loved him and were excited about what was to come in his inaugural season. It wasn't even the Brazil press that were making a fuss about the 18-year-old star. Now though, the reaction is one of confusion.

Globoesporte.com think that the player has "been taken advantage of" in preseason.

Similarly, a UOL headline read: "The Brazilian Vinicius was selected but watched the game from the bench."

Lance!, considered him "one of the great attractions of Madrid this season" and highlighted the fact that he didn't play against Getafe or in the European Super Cup.

Meanwhile, Flamengo have been left frustrated that they couldn't keep the player until the end of their season, having recently dropping from first to third position in their league after a defeat to Atletico Paranaense.

They wanted Vinicius to help them win the Copa Libertadores but instead they see him on the Real Madrid bench. They don't understand.

The player, relaxed

The player himself wants to play, but he is relaxed.

He knows his potential, and he has a resilience that he's developed since a young age.

"Focus on your goals, that's what matters," he said on his Instagram page having not played in Real's LaLiga Santander opener.

He clearly has the love of his family, but also the love of Flamengo's fans, who supported him and wanted him back.

The Estadio Santiago Bernabeu faithful are desperate to see him play but they know that it is Julen Lopetegui who will decide when he unleashes the creative talent.

No matter how much the coach believes that experience in the squad is key, it is games like Getafe where Vinicius should be given time to develop and flourish.