PETE JENSON: Vinicius Jr has become an assist king, is a key part of Real Madrid’s ‘band of brothers’ along with Jude Bellingham and will not be bothered by jeers in the heat of El Clasico battle after racism row

A stunning statistic about Vinicius Jr emerged this week in analysis of Real Madrid’s win over Braga on Tuesday evening.

He had scored both goals in the 2-1 win and now has 18 assists in the league in his 48 games – that’s more than both Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.

Amid all the noise about the Brazilian – a showman to his fans, a petulant diva to his critics – it is somehow lost that, apart from Jude Bellingham, he is not only Madrid’s most explosive striker, but also the most likely assistant.

Vinicius’ performance in Portugal on Tuesday reminded us that his comeback is perfectly timed for the Clasico. He has played within himself at times to avoid recurrence of the hamstring injury he suffered at the end of August, but just as the Clasico loomed large on the horizon he kicked back into top gear.

He has been involved in five goals so far in October. He got two and an assist in big games against Osasuna and Napoli. There were six successful dribbles against Sevilla. And then there were two assists in Braga in midweek.

The Brazilian has scored crucial goals and is also Real Madrid’s most likely assist provider

Vinicius has already built a good rapport with summer signing Jude Bellingham

The second of those passes to goal was for Bellingham and their partnership continues to flourish. Don’t believe the suggestions that his nose is sticking out at the arrival of a contender for his ‘best player in the team’ status.

Vinicius got on well with Karim Benzema, who once ridiculed him in front of teammates and rolling television cameras, so a friendship with Bellingham was easy to forge.

Getting him to play better will work for him and with Bellingham charging at defenses from deep, that can only open up space and opportunities for the Brazilian.

The two also come off the field. The worst thing about the injury Vinicius suffered at the end of August was that it prevented him from taking action; the second worst was that it meant he couldn’t join Bellingham, Aurelian Tchouameni, Rodrygo and Eduardo Camavinga on a group outing to the Verde Beach Club in Saint-Tropez to celebrate the win. Madrid’s young stars are a group of brothers who look out for each other, both on and off the pitch.

He is so happy at the club that he has never considered leaving, despite the racist abuse he has suffered in recent seasons at some grounds, including Camp Nou.

Dissatisfied with the lack of action, he tweeted: “Condemnation is not enough. This has been happening for a long time, yet no action has been taken to end this racism problem.”

But when he was monkey-sung during the away match against Sevilla last week, the home side immediately responded to the perpetrator and Vinicius applauded their response, while also posting photographic evidence of another person responsible.

And when a spokesman for the Barcelona club, Mikel Camps, took to social media in midweek to tweet: “It’s not racism, he deserves a punch for being a clown,” the condemnation was universal.

Eduardo Camavinga, Bellingham and Vinicius are part of a young band of brothers at the club

Vinicius was again the victim of racist abuse during a match against Sevilla last weekend

The 23-year-old star has questioned the lack of action to combat racist abuse in Spain

The tweet was hastily deleted and Barcelona director Rafa Yuste said on Wednesday: “If Vinicius listens to me, I’ll tell him this won’t happen again.”

A respected radio host of Spain’s biggest late-night sports program called Camps “idiot du jour.” The penny has dropped that no amount of so-called unnecessary transfers can justify the use of racism to abuse a player.

This has done nothing to calm tensions before the match and the news that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will not attend the match has been raised in response to Camps’ tweet.

Perez was also absent from the previous two Clasicos at Camp Nou and the atmosphere had already soured due to accusations that Barcelona had paid off a referee boss over a period of seventeen years.

Barcelona also took umbrage at the fact that Madrid wasted no time in adding their name to the list of claimants in the case against them – certainly showing no signs of any brotherly loyalty in the Super League.

There will be no pre-match lunch between the two clubs, while Vinicius will inevitably be jeered on the pitch. Barcelona’s Ilkay Gundogan has even suggested that part of him is happy to be the rival’s public enemy number one, as long as the focus isn’t on racist abuse.

Where there does seem to be great respect is between him and Ronald Araujo. He will once again be closely monitored by the player.

Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez will not attend the Clasico due to tensions with Barcelona

Vinicius will resume his battle with Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo in the El Clasico on Saturday

The Uruguayan has moved to right-back in recent Clásicos so he can better stop Madrid’s star player. Vinicius’ role has changed somewhat this season, with Madrid playing without a striker.

His starting position is more central and so Araujo can be left in the middle of Barça’s back four. Whatever the formations, the two won’t be far apart and their rivalry has taken the form of Bobby Moore versus Pele, despite neither being that. but still at the level of the two former players.

As the Clasico rivalry progresses, their sparring doesn’t match Messi versus Ronaldo, but nothing ever could.

In a match where the two biggest protagonists are orphaned and looking for someone new to steal the biggest show in the world, Vinicius has stepped into the spotlight in recent seasons and there is no indication that this Saturday will be any different.