Not everything is harmonious at Real Madrid. No matter how much the smiling photos on social media try to show otherwise, the reality on the field is starting to become concerning.
Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé aren't connecting, either on a football or emotional level. The team is already noticing it. The first year of experience has been discouraging.
Vinícius and Mbappé barely look for each other on the field. They don't link up, they don't look at each other. Above all, they don't pass the ball to each other.
This is the conclusion left by both players' performances in their first season together. There's no chemistry between them. Neither on the field nor off it.
In an attack that, on paper, should be unstoppable, the disconnect between its two most explosive stars is starting to become obvious.
Mbappé tries to combine with Bellingham. Vinícius prefers to rely on Rodrygo or the full-backs. In the midst of this division of priorities, Madrid's offensive play is suffering.
Jealousy and poorly managed competition
It's not a matter of quality or position. Xabi Alonso has tried several formations at the Club World Cup so both could have freedom. But there's something deeper.
The relationship between them is, at the very least, distant. There's no harmony. Neither on the field nor in the locker room.
Sources close to the Madrid locker room point out that there's a silent tension between the two stars. Vinícius didn't take Mbappé's arrival well. He feels he's lost prominence.
Mbappé, meanwhile, doesn't hide his desire to be the team's absolute reference point. Egos clash. Passes are conspicuously absent.
The Frenchman, used to being the total leader at PSG, can't quite understand some of Vinícius's gestures. The Brazilian, who had spent years waiting to be the great Madrid star, sees his territory invaded without permission.
This friction, not yet verbalized, is already noticeable in every play.
Diario As summed it up in a thorough analysis: 15% of Vinícius's passes go to Mbappé and 13% of Mbappé's go to Vinícius. Very poor numbers.
As recalls that "out of the 6,240 min. (6.240’) Real Madrid have played this season (in 68 matches), they've shared 3,439 min. (3.439’). In other words, they've shared 55% of the total minutes this season with Vinicius and Mbappé together on the field. They've played almost the same amount (4,631 min. (4.631’) for Vini and 4,745 min. (4.745’) for Kylian)."
The report also notes that Vinicius made 1,315 passes this season, and only 202 were directed to Mbappé.
Mbappé, meanwhile, made 1,413 passes, of which only 184 ended up with the Brazilian.
Despite finishing as top scorer, Mbappé has suffered from the lack of understanding with Vinícius. In his last year with PSG, he scored a goal every 88 min. In his first year in white, it's been a goal every 108 min.
Mijatovic sees it clearly: "they're not compatible"
Real Madrid legend Pedja Mijatovic has voiced what many are thinking. In recent statements, the former footballer and former sporting director was blunt:
"Vinícius and Mbappé aren't compatible. They're very good individually, but together they don't add up. They get in each other's way."
Mijatovic went further: "The team plays worse since both are there. They don't understand each other, they don't link up, and that hurts the group. Decisions need to be made before the situation gets more complicated."
His words have sparked debate. Will Xabi Alonso dare to make a move if the problem persists? Or does he trust time to fix it?
Together they're worse
For now, the feeling is that jealousy has crossed the locker room line and settled on the field.
Vinícius scored a goal every 129 min. two years ago. Last season, he managed a goal every 113 min. The conclusion is that together they're worse.
Their trajectories were opposite last year. Vinícius started strong and faded (his slump came after missing out on the Ballon d'Or), while Mbappé went from less to more.
Vinícius scored one goal in his last eleven matches. Mbappé, 10 goals in the last six matches.
As also recalls that out of the 68 matches played by Real Madrid last season, both scored in only eight.