Negotiations between Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid have been halted again due to ongoing rumours about the Saudi Pro League.
Los Blancos were knocked out of the Club World Cup last Wednesday when they lost 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain, which has led to criticism of manager Xabi Alonso.
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The Spanish giants were dominated by the French opponents – both with and without the ball – and there are fears that the head coach will have to make difficult choices in the coming weeks.
Winger Vinicius Junior’s performances have been scrutinised, and his place in the starting line-up has unexpectedly been questioned this summer.
Spanish media outlet El Chiringuito reports that planned contract negotiations between Real Madrid and the Brazilian have stalled, which has increased speculation that the attacker could switch to the Saudi Pro League, as he only has two years left on his current deal.
Mbappe problem
Vinicius Junior has been one of Real’s best players in recent years, and due to his immense talent, he has often been given freedom from defensive responsibilities. Nevertheless, teammate Kylian Mbappe has also often been given the same freedom, but opponents such as PSG have taken advantage of their limited defensive efforts.
If Alonso is to get Los Blancos back to competing for La Liga and the Champions League, he may need to remove one of the two from the starting line-up to restore stability when they don’t have the ball.
This problem is identical to what both the French national team and Kylian Mbappe’s former club Paris Saint-Germain experienced.
Strange to have problems with players who at the top are worth 200 million euros. Transfermarkt Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
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Solutions
While the sale of Vinicius Junior is likely to be a controversial decision, the team as a whole could be better equipped to challenge Europe’s best teams.
The sale of the winger will also allow Mbappe to play in his preferred role on the left flank, rather than the more central role in the club’s attack that he had in the 2024-25 season.
Alonso will undoubtedly need to bring in a new attacking player to replace Vinicius Junior, so perhaps he should look for a striker who can help Mbappe perform better.
