Commentator Mario Cortegana uncovers a worrying situation at Real Madrid that could end with one of the club’s big stars leaving the club.
The latest news from Real Madrid reveals a relationship problem on the pitch between Vinícius Júnior, the 26-year-old Brazilian winger, and Kylian Mbappé, the 27-year-old French striker. According to Mario Cortegana, they have a good personal relationship, but the competition between them affects the team’s performance. Some insiders from Valdebebas believe that the final solution could involve one of the two leaving the club.
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Information suggests that players are constantly comparing themselves to each other – even in defensive responsibilities. This situation poses one of the main challenges for Jose Mourinho, who is looking for a way to harness the offensive potential of both players without compromising the collective balance.
The problem is not new. Since Mbappé’s arrival in 2024, various coaches have tried to find a system that takes advantage of the qualities of both the Frenchman and the Brazilian. However, the difficulties persist at the start of the 2026/27 season.
Real Madrid face a football and ego problem with Vinícius and Mbappé
As explained by Mario Cortegana, sources in Real Madrid rule out any personal animosity between the two players. The problem arises when they have to share responsibilities and adapt their movements to meet the needs of the team.
One of the main concerns is their off-the-ball behavior. According to the journalist, there is a perception within Valdebebas that both players condition their defensive efforts based on what the other does – leading to situations where neither of them participates adequately in the pressure.
This circumstance has tactical implications. With Vinícius and Mbappé remaining offline, the rest of the team has to cover more spaces during defensive transitions – complicating ball recovery and increasing the demands on midfielders.
Differences also arise in the attack. Although Mbappé usually starts from central positions, both tend to seek situations on the left flank. This leads to overlap in certain areas and hinders the distribution of offensive responsibilities.
The statistics also show a performance gap at the start of the season. In the first eight games, Mbappé scored eight goals and provided two assists, while Vinícius collected one goal and three assists.
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The most significant conclusion from The Athletic’s information comes from a source familiar with the team’s operations. Their assessment is that structural difficulties may persist as long as Vinícius and Mbappé continue to share the offensive lead.
This point of view is conveyed to the journalist and is not a decision made by the board. At the moment, there is no confirmation that Real Madrid has put either of the two players on the sale list due to this situation.
For now, José Mourinho is still set to have both players. The coach believes they can influence games and is working on improving their positioning on the pitch – especially on the counter attack and in defensive phases.
The coach has made adjustments to the 4-2-3-1 formation, with the aim of the strikers protecting specific areas without wearing themselves out – thus reducing their offensive contributions. He also wants to prevent them from consistently occupying the same sector.
The next test will come in the games in October, with the clashes against Villarreal and the subsequent Clásico against FC Barcelona. Mourinho will have to see if his adjustments allow for an improved connection between the two strikers – while Real Madrid continue not to publicly consider a player’s departure as the solution to the problem.
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