Ancelotti encourages Vini to lead Brazil's attack
Carlo Ancelotti believes Vinicius Junior can be more effective in Brazil's attack if he chooses to play as a striker rather than as a winger.
The 25-year-old has made an inconsistent start to the 2025-2026 season, scoring five goals and providing four assists in 12 LaLiga games while failing to find the back of the net in four UEFA Champions League matches.
The Real Madrid forward also scored just twice in 11 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches for Brazil as it finished fifth in the CONMEBOL qualification group.
Vinicius has been used in a different role for Brazil since Ancelotti took over as head coach, often rotating with Matheus Cunha and Gabriel Martinelli between the left wing and striker positions.
Ancelotti has encouraged Vinicius to play more often in the number nine role, as he insisted it will lead to more goals.
"I see him either as a winger or as a central striker," Ancelotti said on Vinicius.
"Vinicius has the quality to score many goals. I told him, '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'.
"He understood it, and he enjoys playing in that position.
"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.
"With Vinícius, it wasn't about that; it was another issue, more on a personal level than a tactical one."
Brazil faces Senegal at Emirates Stadium in an international friendly on 16 November (AEDT) before facing Tunisia three days later.
