- 22 minutes ago
Vinicius Junior sends Kylian Mbappe a clear message over Real Madrid role
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 11 May 2024 09:14 BST
- 4 min read
Real Madrid will play in yet another Champions League final following their stirring comeback to beat Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Los Blancos scored twice after the 89th minute to secure a narrow victory over the Bundesliga runners-up and a spot in the Wembley final on 1 June, in which they will face Borussia Dortmund.
One of the main catalysts for their success was Vinicius Junior. The Brazil attacker may not have secured either a goal or an assist, yet he tortured Joshua Kimmich down the left of the pitch and was the instigator of many of his side’s best attacking moments.
READ MORE: Why Mbappe did not announce Real Madrid signing in PSG goodbye message
STATS
Vinicius Junior
AM, M, F (L)
Real Madrid
Vinicius Junior
AM, M, F (L)
Real Madrid
With the arrival of Kylian Mbappe at the Bernabeu now imminent, it was the perfect time for Vini to show what he can do in his favoured role.
FootballCritic scored his performance 7.7 out of 10. He completed seven dribbles – more than the entire Bayern side combined – and completed a game-high 12 touches in the box, which was a figure twice as big as anyone else. He also registered more shots and more shots on target than any other player.
READ MORE: Mbappe told to reject Real Madrid and make €350m move by former Chelsea star
Where does Mbappe fit in at Real Madrid?
Mbappe, who had disappointed in PSG’s semi-final loss to Borussia Dortmund, should have been watching on with some concern.
The Frenchman, after all, has openly admitted that his preferred role is on the left wing and that he does not like to play through the centre.
Vinicius Jr, meanwhile, just showed Mbappe that he is the top dog when it comes to playing in his favoured role.
Amid all the fanfare from Madrid fans celebrating the upcoming signing of the 25-year-old from the Ligue 1 champions, there should be some concern reserved as to where he is going to fit in at his new home.
Why should Vini, who has eclipsed everyone else at Real Madrid this season, including Jude Bellingham, shift away from his best role to make way for the new boy?
So where does this leave Mbappe? By the looks of it, he will be shoehorned in the centre-forward role, a position in which perhaps only 80% of his talent can be exploited. It’s unlikely to make for a happy relationship, particularly given the Frenchman’s habit of getting things his own way.
For the next year, at least, it will be Ancelotti’s job to manage what promises to be a combustible situation and one that could either elevate Real Madrid further or draw them into an unwelcome soap opera.
