The former footballer and analyst Jorge Valdano has shared his view on the relationship between Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid. During his appearance on El Tercer Tiempo, the Argentine was clear: it is not a matter of friendship, but of footballing nature.
Different playing styles
Valdano explained that Vinícius and Mbappé are not connecting much on the field because their playing style doesn't favor it. "There are other players, like Bellingham, who do propose associations continuously," he commented.
The former coach highlighted that Rodrygo and Bellingham have a more associative mindset, which facilitates connections on the field. However, both the Brazilian and the Frenchman are explosive players who seek more individual plays than combinations with a teammate.
The relationship off the field
Regarding the personal relationship between the two, Valdano downplayed the rumors about a possible lack of chemistry. "I don't know what degree of complicity they have off the field, but complicities are not mandatory in the locker room," he stated.
For him, the key is not whether they are friends or not, but whether they can understand each other on the field. Throughout history, many duos were not close off the field, but they understood each other on it.
Defensive effort: a key point
Another topic Valdano analyzed was the defensive sacrifice of both players. Their lack of defensive effort is criticized, but Valdano believes it is "impossible" to change it.
"I coached Romario and had Ronaldo at Madrid, and making them run was Chinese torture. They couldn't, they couldn't," he recalled. Valdano thinks these types of players are decisive in attack, and their talent should be leveraged without demanding efforts that don't align with their nature.
Ancelotti's demand
Despite this, Carlo Ancelotti is trying to involve his stars more in defensive work. When Vinícius and Mbappé have helped in pressing and occupying spaces, Real Madrid has shown better collective performance.
The team needs balance to compete at the highest level, and its two great stars must assume that responsibility if they want to win the most important titles.
A mandatory connection
Beyond playing styles and defensive obligations, Vinícius and Mbappé are destined to understand each other. They are two of the best players in the world, and Madrid's success largely depends on their joint performance.
If they manage to enhance each other, they will score more goals, provide more assists, and increase the chances of winning major titles. In the end, what really matters is the team's well-being, and both the Brazilian and the Frenchman must be clear about that.