Real Madrid manager Santiago Solari says his players love playing with Vinicius Junior, the young Brazilian star who has quickly emerged as one of Madrid’s best players in his debut season at the club.

Vinicius scored one goal and helped set up another in Madrid’s 3-0 win over Deportivo Alaves on Sunday, a result that cut the gap to second-place Atletico Madrid to two points, with the Madrid derby coming up on Saturday.

It was the latest in a series of  good performances from the 18-year-old, who was signed in the summer of 2017 before completing his  €46 million move from Flamengo last July.

“He has done a great match, Vinicius, and was applauded from the [Santiago] Bernabeu,” Solari said after Sunday’s result.

“He is responding very well when he plays and in training.

“We are delighted with his arrival and his performances, and he always has the support of the mature players in the squad, who take care of him, love him and they advise him.”

Vinicius was one of the bright spots during Madrid’s poor start to the season, before the team’s recent turnaround in form which has seen Los Blancos win four straight La Liga games and seven of their last eight across all competitions.

And the young star says he has been unfazed by the prospect of playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs.

“It does not scare me, I play in Madrid, in the best team in the world, I do not fear anything,” Vinicius said.

“I play where the coach believes is better, I will do everything to help, on the right, the left or in the middle, I will continue working to win with Madrid.

“We have returned better in 2019. It is our best moment since the beginning of the season and we will continue to work like this to continue on this path until the end of the season.”