Vinicius Jr’s Diminished Role at Real Madrid Amid Mbappe’s Rise

omidbasir- Vinicius Jr was the standout player for Real Madrid prior to the arrival of Kylian Mbappe in 2024. However, since Mbappe took the lead in Los Blancos’ attack, Vinicius’ contributions have noticeably decreased. This season, he has recorded five goals and eight assists across 24 matches, in contrast to Mbappe’s impressive tally of 29 goals and five assists in the same number of appearances. Consequently, Vinicius has been linked with a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League, as uncertainty looms regarding his contract renewal.

Al-Ittihad’s sporting director, Ramon Planes, expressed the possibility of Vinicius leaving Santiago Bernabeu in the near future. He stated, “Yes, I see it as a possibility that players like Vinicius could be here in Saudi Arabia. I see an evolution of the championship, and it is feasible to have players of the highest level and at their best here. The trend is already to incorporate players at a very good footballing age. It’s no longer just players in the last stage of their careers.”

Former German international Toni Kroos, who played alongside Vinicius Jr at Madrid for six years, spoke highly of the Brazilian. He noted the cultural differences between Brazilians and Germans but emphasized the strong relationship they shared both on and off the field. Kroos remarked, “I’ve always liked them very much, from a very young age. At Real Madrid with Vinicius, Casemiro, and Eder Militao, I have always had a good relationship. They enjoy life very much; they have a very different life from the Germans. With Casemiro or Vini, I got along perfectly. I had a great connection with Vinicius. I got along very well with him off the pitch as well. If you have a bad relationship off the pitch, it’s difficult to have it on the pitch. I took advantage of Vinicius’ runs, and he took advantage of my passes.”

In other news, Lyon has reached an agreement with Madrid to secure Endrick on loan for the remainder of the season after the young forward made just four appearances for Xabi Alonso’s side. The 19-year-old, who will don the number nine jersey at Lyon, expressed his excitement on social media, stating, “Christmas has come early!” Following the announcement, Kroos commented on Endrick’s decision to move to France temporarily, suggesting that a loan could be beneficial for his development. He reflected on his own experience, saying, “For a player like Endrick, the most important thing is to play. If he doesn’t have the possibility to do it here, I think the best way is for him to go to another club, on loan, to play. I also went out on loan when I was young, and it was very good for me.”

Endrick will join Lyon for training on Monday, but he will not make his debut in the upcoming match against AS Monaco. However, he may feature against Lille on January 11. Meanwhile, Vinicius Jr will aim to lead Real Madrid to victory on Sunday when they face Real Betis in La Liga.