Real Madrid shouldn’t stand in Vinicius Jr’s way: Mega-money exit would benefit Xabi Alonso’s Blancos – and potentially pave the way for Erling Haaland’s arrival!

Vinicius’ refusal to pen a new deal isn’t exactly an immense surprise – strained relationship with the manager or not. From day one, it seemed a foolish decision to bring in Mbappe when Vinicius was already established in the Madrid team. They were – and remain – the two best left wingers in world football, effectively playing slightly different versions of the same position. Vinicius starts a little wider, dribbles more, and cuts in, while Mbappe likes to stride in the left channel, though he can also certainly take on his man. So often during Mbappe’s debut season in Madrid, the two ran into the same spaces. 

By the end of it all, Ancelotti almost gave up and played them as a front two, trusting that the world-class duo would work it out. However, neither player seemed particularly keen to pass to one another, nor did they work anywhere near hard enough off the ball to make Madrid a solid defensive unit. Mbappe did break the record for the most goals in a Madrid debut season (43), yet his arrival certainly made the defending Spanish and European champions worse.

Mbappe has carried that form into the new campaign having taken up a permanent central role under Alonso, but Vinicius form has continued to nosedive. Since the turn of the year, he has scored just 11 goals in 40 La Liga and Champions League appearances, while his most notable contribution of the current campaign came when he reacted furiously to being substituted in El Clasico on October 26. Vinicius later apologised but, as many noted, Alonso was not mentioned in his statement.

“You have to get the best out of the players and make them feel as good as possible,” Alonso said ahead of Madrid’s Champions League clash with Olympiacos on Wednesday as he refused to be drawn into specifics related to Vinicius. “It has different facets, but you have to know how to navigate them well. That happens at Real Madrid and at any team.”