Real Madrid and Vinicius: Dual Citizenship, Non-EU Limits, and the Path to Spain

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Real Madrid confirmed that Vinicius Junior took an oath to the Spanish Constitution on Friday, September 2, establishing his status as a dual citizen from that moment. In practical terms, this means he is a Spanish citizen in addition to his Brazilian nationality.

The club had waited months for the legal process to conclude. Vinicius began his journey with Real Madrid about a year ago, supported by the club every step of the way. He arrived in Spain from Flamengo in July 2018 and completed the minimum residency period required to obtain dual citizenship last summer, a milestone that capped years of eligibility discussions and administrative delays.

The delays in processing these files by the Department of Justice had held up a process common among South American footballers, often affecting squad registration and planning for La Liga teams. This administrative step matters because it determines whether a player can be registered under certain non-EU limits within the league framework.

three non-community

This development is significant for Real Madrid because current regulations allow clubs to register only a limited number of non-EU players. Those with special agreements with the European Union or players born in EU member states do not count against this cap. The change in Vinicius’s status effectively alters his non-EU quota placement and can influence squad composition in future windows.

Vinicius and fellow Brazilians Rodrygo Goes and Eder Militao previously occupied three non-EU slots for Real Madrid. This situation constrained the club from adding another player with non-EU status and also helps explain transfer decisions seen elsewhere in European football, such as Manchester City’s past caution about certain Brazilian signings when EU quotas were tight.

With the oath to the Constitution completed, La Liga began recognizing Vinicius as a domestic, EU-eligible player, potentially easing regulatory constraints on the squad. The primary downside for Madrid in this context is the closing of the summer transfer market, but there remains the possibility to sign a non-EU player in the January window should they choose to pursue that route.

Meanwhile, the door opens for Vinicius Tobias, another Brazilian talent who could soon debut with Real Madrid’s first team. Tobias, an 18-year-old right-back, joined from Shakhtar Donetsk in April, taking advantage of a FIFA window opened by the conflict in Ukraine. Until now, Tobias could only represent Castilla in the lower leagues, though he may be eligible for senior competition if coach Carlo Ancelotti decides his readiness matches the level of top-flight play.

Can you play with Spain?

Despite Vinicius now being a full citizen of Spain, there are still conditions that govern his ability to represent the national team in official matches. He cannot play against Spain in the international arena. Specifically, if he had appeared in an official match for Brazil before a certain cutoff in September 2019, he would be ineligible to switch allegiance. Since then, Vinicius has featured prominently for Brazil, contributing as a leading figure for the squad. The next major international stage on the horizon will be the Qatar World Cup, scheduled for November, where national teams will compete with a full roster of players including potential dual nationals.

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