Manchester United legend’s advice to misfiring Real Madrid superstar: ‘Focus on playing and forget…’ | OneFootball

Manchester United legend’s advice to misfiring Real Madrid superstar: ‘Focus on playing and forget…’ | OneFootball

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Madrid Universal

·9 gennaio 2026

Manchester United legend’s advice to misfiring Real Madrid superstar: ‘Focus on playing and forget…’

Immagine dell'articolo:Manchester United legend’s advice to misfiring Real Madrid superstar: ‘Focus on playing and forget…’

Vinicius Jr. continues to be one of the most talked-about figures in Spanish football, and not always for the right reasons. 

The Real Madrid forward once again found himself at the centre of attention during the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid, but not because of his performance on the pitch. 


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Instead, the headlines focused on his confrontation with Diego Simeone, overshadowing what was another difficult night for the Brazilian.

Rio Ferdinand shares his advice

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has now weighed in on the situation, offering advice aimed at helping Vinicius navigate what is clearly a challenging phase. 

The former England international believes the winger must block out the external noise and refocus entirely on his football.

Vinicius’ display against Atletico was widely seen as underwhelming. His influence on the game was limited, and rather than making a decisive impact, he once again became involved in off-the-ball drama. 

Immagine dell'articolo:Manchester United legend’s advice to misfiring Real Madrid superstar: ‘Focus on playing and forget…’

Vinicius Jr. had a feud with Diego Simeone. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

The clash with Simeone drew most of the attention, reinforcing the idea that the Brazilian remains under constant scrutiny, especially during moments when his form dips.

Speaking as a television commentator, as per SPORT, Ferdinand highlighted the core issue surrounding Vinicius. 

He acknowledged the player’s talent but stressed the importance of mental focus.

“Vinicius is a fantastic player, but he needs to focus on playing and forget about everything else,” he explained.

The former defender then addressed the Simeone incident directly, suggesting that the best response always comes on the scoreboard rather than through words or reactions. 

“What did Simeone tell him, that Florentino is going to fire him? Well, let him respond with a 1-0, 2-0, and 3-0 victory and call it a night,” he concluded.

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