Carlo Ancelotti suggests that Vinicius Junior could enhance his impact on Brazil's attack by playing as a striker instead of a winger. The 25-year-old has had a mixed start to the 2025-26 season, netting five goals and providing four assists in 12 LaLiga matches. However, he hasn't scored in four Champions League games and managed only two goals in 11 World Cup qualifiers for Brazil.
Vinicius has been adapting to a new role under Ancelotti's guidance, often switching positions with Matheus Cunha and Gabriel Martinelli between the left wing and striker roles. Ancelotti believes that Vinicius should embrace the number nine position more frequently, as it could lead to increased goal-scoring opportunities. "I see him either as a winger or as a central
striker," stated Ancelotti regarding Vinicius.
Ancelotti has expressed confidence in Vinicius' ability to score more goals, emphasizing the advantages of playing centrally. He explained to Vinicius, "When you play as a winger, you need three or four dribbles and seven or eight touches to score. But in the centre, one well-timed movement is enough to score. " This insight resonated with Vinicius, who enjoys playing in this position.
The Brazilian national team is preparing for upcoming friendlies under Ancelotti's leadership. They will face Senegal at the Emirates Stadium on November 15 and then take on Tunisia three days later. The team recently began training at Arsenal's facilities in London, with some players still arriving.
PRIMEIRO TREINO EM LONDRES! A Seleo Brasileira deu inciopreparao para os amistosos da ltima Data FIFA de 2025. Sob o comando do mister Carlo Ancelotti, o grupo trabalhou no CT do Arsenal, ainda com parte dos atletas se apresentando. O primeiro desafio ser no pic.twitter.com/ie2g9xBnTe
- brasil (@CBF_Futebol) November 11, 2025
Ancelotti emphasized that he does not intend to force players into uncomfortable positions. "I'm not going to force a footballer to play in a position he doesn't want; I want them to play where they're comfortable," he said. With Vinicius, the decision was influenced by personal considerations rather than tactical reasons.
As Brazil gears up for their friendly matches against Senegal and Tunisia, Ancelotti's strategic adjustments aim to maximize Vinicius' potential on the field. By exploring different roles within the team, both player and coach are working towards achieving greater success in upcoming fixtures.
