An unthinkable scenario at Real! Vinícius could lose his spot on the main team
Storm clouds are gathering over Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid. After the painful derby defeat, the Brazilian's place in the starting eleven is suddenly under serious threat.
Details: According to Madrid Universal, citing Marca, Vinicius might lose his starting spot in the team. The warning signs come after Real's 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano, where the Brazilian, alongside Mbappé and Bellingham, was kept completely quiet.
Sunday's derby was a nightmare for Vinicius: his goal drought at the Metropolitano continues, and Real's entire star-studded front line failed to deliver in the 2-1 loss that left Mourinho's side six points behind Barcelona in the La Liga title race. The winger himself recently admitted his finishing has been below par, and the competition is breathing down his neck: young Yan Diomande is pushing hard for minutes, while Mbappé remains the undisputed face of the project. The situation is made even more delicate by the unresolved contract saga: Vinicius has yet to sign a renewal, Arsenal's interest has been described as concrete, and the club reportedly issued an ultimatum earlier this year with the message that nobody is above Real Madrid. For a player who has carried Los Blancos to Champions League glory, a spot on the bench would have seemed unthinkable just months ago. But Mourinho has never been afraid of bold decisions, and after publicly tearing into the refereeing of the derby, the Portuguese coach now has to fix his attack, with or without his Brazilian star.
It's worth noting that Vinicius has not scored at the Metropolitano since 2022, a statistic that has become a symbol of his complicated relationship with the derby.
Reminder: “We should have played 11 against 9” Mourinho tears into referee after derby defeat to Atletico
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
