Real Madrid have confirmed that winger Vinicius Junior has received his Spanish passport, after receiving a good news from Spain's Ministry of Justice. That means Los Blancos are freeing up a non-EU space in the squad. La Liga clubs are allowed to have five players in their squad who were born outside the EU - with just three permitted to be named in any matchday squad - and Vinicius had taken one of those spots every year since his arrival in 2018. Now, however, he has obtained a Spanish passport, which means he is no longer seen as a non-EU player.
He has been living in Spain since 2018 and thus already fulfils the legal requirements to obtain the nationality. Two years ago he passed the two exams required for the next step, one in Spanish and the other in general culture of the country. But he was awaiting the swearing in of the Constitution to obtain his second nationality, something that had been delayed much longer than Real Madrid had anticipated and which generated a certain amount of unease at the club. However, it was finally formalised on Friday, September 2nd.
Real Madrid currently have two non-EU nationals, the Brazilians Rodrygo Goes and Eder Militao, who are also awaiting the last formalities to obtain dual nationality. Vinicius has been able to receive his earlier because he started the process sooner. Everything indicates therefore that both the striker and the central defender will still have to wait but the amount of the time is uncertain.
Vinicius' dual nationality is, in any case, great news for Madrid, as it frees up an extra non-EU place ahead of the next transfer window, which opens after the World Cup in Qatar. It is well known that Real Madrid are always on the lookout for international players, and the fact that they can sign a non-EU player opens up their range of possibilities. Besides this, there are many non-EU players currently playing in top European clubs and who are often in the radars of Real Madrid.
One similar case includes Gabriel Jesus. In the summer, Real Madrid were interested in Gabriel Jesus, a player who wanted to leave Manchester City and who was very admired by Carlo Ancelotti. However, with the three non-EU spots at Real Madrid taken up by his compatriots, it didn't materialize and the striker was forced to settle for a move to Arsenal.
This however may turn pretty well for Vinicius Tobias. Vinicius Tobias. He is a right-back who plays for Real Madrid Castilla, is also Brazilian, and could play in the first team if Ancelotti considers it appropriate. For the moment, the former Shakhtar Donetsk man is already on Madrid's squad list for the 2022/23 Champions League campaign.
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