Vinicius Junior Faces Deepening Crisis at Real Madrid Amid Slump
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior faces a deepening crisis after failing to attempt a single dribble in his last two starts, missing the upcoming El Clasico due to suspension.
Vinicius Junior Faces Deepening Crisis at Real Madrid
Vinicius Junior had hoped for a fresh start with the beginning of the 2026/27 season, but his crisis at Real Madrid is only deepening. Marca published a concerning statistical report highlighting that in his last two starts against Roma and RB Leipzig, the Brazilian winger failed to attempt a single dribble. Over 129 combined minutes, one of the world's most renowned dribblers did not try to take on an opponent even once.
Against Leipzig, Vinicius played 70 minutes after logging 59 minutes against Roma. Marca noted that he looked subdued and completely devoid of attacking initiative. This follows his red card against Villarreal roughly ten days prior, where he was suspended for four matches after pulling Saliba's hair. Consequently, he will miss Sunday's crucial El Clasico against Barcelona, as well as league fixtures against Racing Santander and Valencia.
Diomande Shines as Mourinho Defends Vinicius
Meanwhile, Yan Diomande is starting to justify his historic 125 million euro price tag after a shaky start to the season. The Ivorian winger has attempted 47 dribbles with a 66 percent success rate, compared to 38 attempts and a 42 percent success rate for Vinicius. The playing time disparity is also notable, with Diomande logging just 565 minutes while the Brazilian has already surpassed 800 minutes.
Despite mounting criticism, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho expressed satisfaction with the Brazilian's overall contribution. Following the match against Leipzig, Mourinho addressed reporters:
If he is sad, that is a personal matter. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I believe only he can openly say what he feels or does not feel. As a coach, I am satisfied with his game.
Tactical Substitutions and Squad Depth
Mourinho clarified that substituting Vinicius was not a sign of tactical dissatisfaction:
This was not a substitution by an unhappy coach, but by a coach with a deep bench. I knew I could inject more speed into the match with players like Diomande and Endrick. You will all have to get used to this, because it will happen often.
The manager also acknowledged the psychological aspect of the player's current struggles, noting that home jeers hurt more than away hostility, while reiterating his full backing for the forward.
