Real Madrid fans were elated after the news of Vinicius Jr.’s contract extension in the summer. The forward was coming on the back of a great World Cup campaign and was one of the club’s better performers during the second half of last season.
However, renewing Vinicius’ on a long-term contract and giving him a hefty salary package appears to have backfired this season.
Vinicius has been nowhere near his best under the leadership of Jose Mourinho, putting Real Madrid in a delicate situation.
Real Madrid in heaps of trouble
As reported by journalist Sergio Valentin, Vinicius is grappling with a double challenge. The first concerns his own dip in form, while the second relates to the rise of Yan Diomande.
Vinicius has been a shadow of his former self this season. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)
For the first time in his Madrid career, the forward finds himself facing real competition for his place, a scenario he is not accustomed to.
That new reality has left him in an uncomfortable position, and it is one that has created friction with his manager.
A problem for Mourinho and Perez
Valentin notes that Jose Mourinho finds himself in a highly sensitive spot, tasked with managing a player who is not delivering the required output yet struggles to accept being benched or substituted during matches.
Vinicius won’t be available vs Barcelona.. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Complicating matters further is Vinicius’ standing with the hierarchy. The Brazilian continues to enjoy a special status with president Florentino Perez, who sanctioned a contract extension until 2032 worth a net salary of around €25 million per season.
That makes it an enormous investment in a player whose value appears to be declining rapidly. It leaves Madrid caught in an awkward bind, committed financially and politically to a forward who is currently unable to justify either the outlay or his place in the side.
With the Clasico on the horizon and Vinicius serving a domestic suspension, the timing of his struggles could hardly be worse.
With that in mind, how Mourinho navigates the situation will be interesting as the coach will likely to have take on not only Vinicius himself but also president Perez.