Former Atletico Madrid stars Luiz Pereira and Joao Leiva 'Leivinha' have backed Real Madrid's swoop for Vinicius Junior.

Real have drawn criticism for splashing out €45 million for the 16 year-old Flamengo striker.

"He's a new guy who wants to have a future. He's coming to Real Madrid, which is a big responsibility and it's not easy. In Brazil there are great players, very young, and some are coming up. A boy of 16. He has a great future ahead and we hope things go well for him," said Pereira.

Leivinha also remarked: "He's a very young man, he's very young, but he has excelled in Brazil, he's a young man who promises a lot, but he's very young, he'll need an adaptation when he arrives in Madrid."