The club has communicated in an official note that the Brazilian player, Vinicius Junior, pledged allegiance to the Spanish Constitution on September 2.
Vini’s Spanish nationality was finally formalised last Friday
Real Madrid have received good news from Spain’s Ministry of Justice. The club has communicated in an official note that the Brazilian player, Vinicius Junior, pledged allegiance to the Spanish Constitution on September 2. Therefore, as of last Friday, the winger also has Spanish nationality and thus ceases to occupy a non-EU place in the first-team squad. He has been living in Spain since 2018 and thus already fulfils the legal requirements to obtain the nationality. Two years ago, he passed the two exams required for the next step, one in Spanish and the other in the country’s general culture. But he was awaiting the swearing-in of the Constitution to obtain his second nationality, something that had been delayed much longer than Real Madrid had anticipated and which generated a certain amount of unease at the club. However, it was finally formalised last Friday.
The Brazilian’s dual nationality frees up an extra non-EU place for Real Madrid
Real Madrid currently have two non-EU nationals, the Brazilians Rodrygo Goes and Eder Militao, who are also awaiting the last formalities to obtain dual nationality. Vinicius has been able to receive his earlier because he started the process sooner. Everything indicates, therefore, that both the striker and the central defender will still have to wait. Vinicius’ dual nationality is, in any case, great news for Madrid, as it frees up an extra non-EU place ahead of the next transfer window, which opens after the World Cup in Qatar. It is well known that Real Madrid are always on the lookout for international players, and the fact that they can sign a non-EU player opens up their range of possibilities. In the summer, Real Madrid were interested in Gabriel Jesus, a player who wanted to leave Manchester City and who was very admired by Carlo Ancelotti.
However, with the three non-EU spots taken up by his compatriots, it didn’t materialise, and the striker was forced to settle for a move to Arsenal. The news about Vinicius, however, could benefit his namesake, Vinicius Tobias. He is a right-back who plays for Real Madrid Castilla, is also Brazilian, and could play in the first team if Ancelotti considers it appropriate. For the moment, the former Shakhtar Donetsk man is already on Madrid’s squad list for the 2022/23 Champions League campaign.