Mbappe brings €150m superstar to Man Utd

Carlo Garganese

• 17 Jan 2024 12:42 GMT
• 3 min read

If Kylian Mbappe completes his expected move to Real Madrid this summer, it could have the domino effect of taking Vinicius Jr to Manchester United.

That is according to a sensational report from Defensa Central, which reports that if and when Mbappe moves to Madrid it will raise serious doubts about Vinicius Jr’s future at the Santiagoo Bernabeu.

Mbappe plays in the same position as Vini Jr on the left-hand side of the attack, and while the Frenchman could potentially be shifted to the centre or right, his favoured role is on the left.

As a result, Madrid could look to cash in on Vini Jr, who himself is not against a transfer away from Spain due to constant racism from opposition fans.

The report claims that Man Utd are ready to pay €150 million for the Brazilian, making him the most expensive transfer in the club’s history and the third most expensive of all time after Mbappe’s €180m move to PSG and Neymar’s to the same club for €222m.

United are set to buy a top-class attacker this summer as they have struggled badly in front of goal in 2023-24.

Vinicius Jr is much-appreciated in the hierarchy at Old Trafford and by new transfer chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe, although the attacker would occupy the same role as Marcus Rashford, which would raise questions about the Englishman’s future.

Vini Jr has established himself as one of the best attackers in world football over the past few years, and he was a key player as Madrid won the 2022 Champions League.

He scored the winner in the final as Madrid beat Man Utd’s rivals Liverpool in the final.

Still only 23, this is Vinicius Jr’s sixth season at Madrid after joining the club as a teenager from Flamengo in 2017.

He has since scored 68 goals for the club in 241 appearances. He has been in inspired form this season with nine goals in all competitions from 16 games.

Vinicius Jr has been less impressive for the Brazil national side as he has scored just three goals in 26 appearances.