Julen Lopetegui has something of a selection dilemma ahead of El Clasico as talented Brazilian teenager Vinicius Junior is available after a ban for getting sent off playing with Castilla was overturned.
Real Madrid’s appeal to overturn the ban has been accepted by an appeal committee, which means the Brazilian will be available for the crunch clash with Barcelona on Sunday.
The 18-year-old scored but was later sent off in Castilla’s 1-1 draw against Celta Vigo last Sunday after receiving two yellow cards, one for arguing and the second for a supposed dive.
Carmen Perez initially rejected the club’s protestations but that was overturned, meaning Lopetegui, who has barely given Vinicius a chance, now has a difficult decision to make.
He may decide to include the teenager in the squad with Real struggling horrendously for form over the last month, or if he leaves him out he can play for Castilla, who face Fuenlabrada on Saturday.
Julen Lopetegui is struggling in charge of Real.
The youngster is highly thought of in Madrid but Lopetegui seems determined not to rush him through. He didn’t include Vinicius in his matchday squad against Levante last weekend and then left him on the bench against Viktoria Plzen in the midweek Champions League 2-1 triumph.
The talented youngster recently spoke about playing for Castilla in the Segunda B league, saying: “I did pre-season with the first team aware that I could end up playing with the B team.
“I asked to play there if I wasn’t going to be considered because it’s better than staying at home.”