A starting spot looking shakier despite the contract extension
Vinicius Junior signed a new deal with Real Madrid through to 2032 this summer. It was meant to lock in his status as one of the club’s key men. On the pitch, though, the story is different. The Brazilian has put up modest numbers: one goal and three assists in eight matches this season. The Madrid captain is in a spell of doubt, despite already wearing the armband on the club’s biggest European nights.
Former goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares has turned up the heat in the Spanish press. He believes Vinicius, even with the captain’s armband, is hurting the team far more than helping it right now. It’s a blunt view, but one that sums up the growing concern around Madrid’s No. 7, who has been held to a much higher standard ever since that Champions League triumph.
The contract backdrop only makes this run of form more closely watched by the socios and the Madrid media, who are already comparing his numbers with those from previous seasons.
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The pressure is only getting worse
The fixture list is not doing him any favours. Vinicius has often occupied the left wing, the same area Kylian Mbappe also drifts into during his attacking rotations. The overlap between the two has muddied Real Madrid’s attacking patterns and fuelled criticism of the balance the coach is trying to build.
The Ceuta shirt incident, which sparked controversy in recent weeks, has piled on more pressure. And now there is real competition. Yan Diomande made an impact off the bench in the 2-1 derby defeat to Atletico and quickly won over both the crowd and the staff. Polls among Madrid socios now lean towards handing the young Ivory Coast winger a start.
Vinicius knows the challenge
Behind the scenes, the message is clear. Vinicius knows his performances have fallen short and wants to win back his place through his football, not his status. Real Madrid’s next match now feels pivotal for the rest of his season, with the captain’s armband one side of the equation and fierce competition on his own flank the other.
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