Vinícius Jr. Isn't Handling Kylian Mbappé's Emergence as the Superstar Signing by Real Madrid Well. His Game Is Declining, his status as the team's flagship player is in question, his teammates have given him a talking-to, and he responds with leaks about his departure.
The offer from Arabia is now joined by that of PSG. Meanwhile, Florentino remains calm: his clause is 1 billion for everyone.
Vinícius Wants to Earn More Than Mbappé
Meanwhile, the club is trying to renew and extend the contract that ties him to the club until 2027. But he's asking for a lot, which is why the negotiation is stalled. Vinícius wants to be recognized by his club as the best, and to achieve that, he demands to be the highest-paid player on the team.
He wants to earn more than Mbappé, but in real figures. He also doesn't believe that the Frenchman earns 15 million annually, as claimed by the club. He wants the club to recognize him in his bank account as The Best he is.
While he discusses his future with the club, his performance has experienced a spectacular decline. His quality is not a concern, because talent is never lost, but his attitude is. His image of apathy in recent matches hasn't gone unnoticed in the offices or the locker room.
Bellingham and Modric's Scoldings
Eduardo Inda stated last night on El Chiringuito that the number of teammates who are getting fed up with his attitudes is growing. Both on and off the field.
He recalls Bellingham's scolding in Cornellà for going solo, and Modric's in Butarque, for not coming back to defend.
Kylian Mbappé doesn't feel comfortable with Vinícius by his side. In fact, his performance has seen a spectacular improvement in the Brazilian's absence.
"There's anger from several players and the core of the locker room with Vinícius," Eduardo Inda said on El Chiringuito. "He has two problems, one in the locker room and another in the offices."
"He has asked for a salary increase because the Saudi Arabia move is real, the Saudi league is tempting him, and he's taking advantage of it. He's at the maximum salary level, which is 15 million, where Bellingham and Mbappé are, and he wants to climb that step," he said.
Inda adds: "He wants to be a step above his teammates, something surreal. Internal peace is based on the three stars earning the same, as was the case with the Galácticos of Figo, Zidane, Beckham, and Ronaldo."
A Worrying Decline in His Performance
Vinícius started the season as he finished the last one. With 12 goals, he was the top scorer of a team that already showed a certain dependency on him.
But he is no longer among the top three scorers of the team. His decline has resulted in 5 goals in the last two and a half months. In that same time, Mbappé has scored 14 goals, Rodrygo 10, and Bellingham 8.
Curiously, Vinícius transforms in the Champions League, and that is the hope of Madrid fans today in Manchester. He has 7 goals and has scored in the last four Real Madrid matches. In the league, he hasn't scored since November 9.
Rejects Florentino's First Offer to Renew
And his teammates, according to Eduardo Inda, are demanding a change in attitude: less individualism and more focus on the team.
Vinícius's decline and his teammates' criticism of his attitude on the field come at a crucial moment. When his future is open. Due to the negotiation of a mega-contract with Real Madrid while he puts on the table, as a pressure measure, the offers he has received.
The latest, from PSG, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri. Additionally, The Athletic confirms that Vinícius's agents have rejected Florentino Pérez's first renewal offer.
In Real Madrid's offices, they prefer to see the bright side. They want to believe that Vinícius's decline in performance has nothing to do with the negotiation of his renewal.