Brazil Manager Tite: “Vinicius is an extraordinary talent, we can't forget he’s only 19”

Brazilian national team manager, Tite, spoke with the press ahead of their match against Colombia tomorrow evening at the Hard Rock Café stadium in Miami. When brought to the subject of Vinicius JR, Tite did not hold back in his praise for the teenager. “Vinicius has 6-7 gears. His speed is incredible. There is some irregularity in his game which is natural for a kid of his age. We have spoken a lot in the last few days, he is a stupendous kid that has an extraordinary talent but things are happening very fast in his life,” he explained.

Tite then went on to caution the media and fans, pleading with them to have patience with young Vinicius, “When we see Vinicius playing at Real at the level he has shown, we overvalue his ability to mature. We can’t forget he’s only 19. We have to give him time and take care of him.”

Zidane has been experimenting with Vinicius on the right wing in order to fit both he and Eden Hazard in the same scheme which Tite felt would be good for his experience. “It’s in his DNA to play on the left, but it is good for him to have other experiences in other positions” he told reporters. “Obviously Vinicius has to improve a lot of things, his anxiety when he gets on the ball, his defensive work, but his natural talent is greater than these things. You have to understand that we are speaking bout a kid of 19 years of age.”

The match against Colombia will offer Vinicius the opportunity to earn his first senior cap for the full Brazilian National team and play with his idol, Neymar.