If the French striker lands at the Santiago Bernabeu, it could be an extremely bad moment for Vinicius Junior personally.
In May 2017, Real Madrid stunned the world when it decided to sign a contract with Vinicius Junior, a 17-year-old young player on the payroll of Flamengo club, Brazil. The transfer fee of up to 45 million euros makes many “Los Blancos” fans feel curious, because many people don’t even know who this guy is or how talented he is.
After nearly 6 years playing for the capital Madrid team, the player born in 2000 quickly became a mainstay in the attack of “Los Blancos”, winning many noble titles with the club. Most notable is the goal he scored against Liverpool in the Champions League final of the 2021/2022 season, helping Carlo Ancelotti and his team reach the top of Europe.
At the end of October 2023, Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid decided to extend the contract until 2027, with a contract breaking clause of up to 1 billion euros. I thought this would be an affirmation of the trust that the Santiago Bernabeu team placed in him. However, next time, the Brazilian player will likely face the biggest challenge of his career, competing with Kylian Mbappe.
Although Real Madrid continuously denied interest in the French striker, this team’s moves in the transfer market show the opposite. President Florentino Perez really likes Kylian Mbappe, and he is willing to do everything for him to land at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Many sources in Spain and France confirm that the striker born in 1998 will leave Paris Saint-Germain for Real Madrid immediately after this season ends. If that is indeed the case, the person who should feel the most worried about his position is none other than Vinicius Junior.
Both of these players have quite similar playing styles. Use speed and passing ability to eliminate opponents. Theoretically, Kylian Mbappe, with his comprehensiveness, can completely play as a center striker, something he has been doing for Paris Saint-Germain for many years.
But everyone understands that if they want to maximize the 2018 World Cup champion’s potential, like what he showed in the French national team, the 25-year-old striker must be given priority on the left wing. This accidentally caused Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior to step on each other’s feet.
Erling Haaland, another Real Madrid target, appears to be a better fit for Vinicius Junior. Both can complement each other instead of competing for positions. However, it is not easy for Manchester City to sell the top scorer in the squad, despite the unquestionable attraction from the Royal team.
Real Madrid needs to reduce its salary budget before making a generous offer for Kylian Mbappe. And if true, then the prospect of Vinicius Junior having to leave the Santiago Bernabeu in the 2024 summer market is completely possible.