Vinicius Junior's rise is a problem for Kylian Mbappe

Stuart Telford

• 10 Oct 2023 16:22 BST
• 3 min read

Vinicius Junior is set to sign a new four-year contract with Real Madrid which includes a €1 billion release clause. His rise to prominence could prove problematic for Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe to Real Madrid remains a distinct possibility. The Frenchman may have been reintegrated into Paris Saint-Germain's squad this season - scoring eight goals in nine games - but his is yet to extend upon a contract that expires next summer.

It has become something of an open secret that Madrid would be his next destination, and Florentino Perez has made no secret of his admiration for the player, even if he did spurn a move to them in May 2022, signing a new deal in Paris.

READ: PSG boss Luis Enrique 'pushing' Mbappe to Real Madrid

But while Mbappe's contractual future is uncertain, Vinicius Jr.'s is clear: Real will announce his new four-year extension in the coming weeks, once Perez has recovered from a bout of coronavirus.

The Brazilian's salary is set to jump from €3.5 million to €10m a year, making him the fifth-best paid player at the club, and will include a €1bn release clause, primarily to ward off interest from Saudi Arabia.

Vini Jr. now a leader at Real

"It's always an honour the affection I receive from these fans and the one I have for them," Vinicius said recently. "I'm very happy to play here and I want to continue playing here for the rest of my life."

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Vinicius Jr has no intention of leaving Real Madrid amid Liverpool links

The Brazilian has inherited the No.7 jersey once worn by Cristiano Ronaldo from Eden Hazard, and there is little question of him being move from his preferred spot on Madrid's left flank.

And therein lies the problem for Mbappe. He spent last season publicly complaining about having to lead the line at PSG while Neymar and Lionel Messi occupied the deeper and wider positions he wanted to.

The club's transfer business since has been designed to put him back on the left flank: Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos strikers, Ousmane Dembele a winger who prefers playing on the right.

"pivotgang" Mbappe posted on Instagram last season in an obvious dig at being made to play at No.9, but it is a situation who is set to find himself in again in Madrid.