Vinicius: I Want to Renew My Contract and I'm Excited for the Derby

The Brazilian star, Vinicius Junior, player of Spanish club Real Madrid, appeared at the press conference before the match against Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

Vinicius talked about his journey with Real Madrid, saying: "I have reached 300 matches with this jersey, and now I am one of the team leaders. I am still living wonderful moments and achieving my dreams. We started playing better since the match against Manchester City, and I hope the fans will be with us tomorrow so we can deliver a great match that suits them."

Regarding European refereeing, he said: "Referees in Europe support players who deliver great football. We don't like to talk about refereeing, but it's important for us that the decisions are fair in the match."

On the rumors about his future, Vinicius confirmed: "I have a contract with Real Madrid until 2027. I hope to renew it soon because I am very happy here. Everyone at the club loves and appreciates me, and I can't find a better place than this."

Regarding tempting financial offers from other clubs, he said: "I am here to continue writing history with Real Madrid. I want to score more goals and win more titles, as I aspire to be part of the great legends of the club."

When asked about the Ballon d'Or, he said: "I don't feel deceived for not winning the Ballon d'Or. People vote based on their convictions. My primary dream was not to win it, but when you get close to it, you start to believe in it. It's okay, I will have other opportunities, as I am still at the beginning of my career."

Regarding the reason for not attending the Ballon d'Or ceremony, he said: "The club asked me to stay in Madrid, and I always do what the club asks me to do."

Vinicius expressed his excitement before facing Atletico Madrid, saying: "Derby matches are always special, but facing them in the Champions League makes it even more thrilling. We are excited to play a great match tomorrow at the Bernabeu, and we know that the return leg will also be tough at Atletico's home ground."

On his personal performance this season, Vinicius clarified: "I am in great shape right now, but with the number of matches and injuries, it's normal to have a slight decline at times. I have played many matches this season, and I believe I am performing well."

He continued: "What makes me feel nervous on the pitch is when some players are not punished for their mistakes, and when I make my first intervention, the referee immediately shows me the card. I am constantly learning and becoming calmer over time."

He concluded: "The last match was not good for us; we made many mistakes, but that won't happen tomorrow. If you make mistakes in the Champions League, you will be eliminated from the tournament. We are ready to deliver a strong performance against Atletico Madrid."