Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 7y

Real Madrid-bound Vinicius Junior celebrates first senior Flamengo goal

Future Real Madrid player Vinicius Junior has told ESPN Brasil he is happy to have scored the "historic" first goal of his career for Flamengo.

The strike came in a 5-0 Copa Sudamericana second round win over Chilean side Palestino.

In May, Madrid announced that they had signed Vinicius, with a reported €45 million transfer effective when the Brazil youth international turns 18 in July next year.

At that point he had not played a senior club game, but he has been eased into the setup and struck against Palestino after coming on as a substitute.

Vinicius said: "Everyone had been waiting for this goal, and everyone is now very happy.

"My teammates give me confidence that it would come today. They are always helping me and giving me confidence. I am happy for scoring this historic goal in my life.

"Nobody ever pressured me here at Flamengo [about scoring his first goal]. "They always give me strength and said it would come in time."

Vinicius dedicated the goal to former Flamengo youth coach Ze Ricardo, who was sacked as first team manager this week after a poor run of results.

"I wish all the best to the professor Ze Ricardo, who launched me as a professional," he added. "This goal is dedicated to him."

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