Real Madrid News
Journalist warns Real Madrid superstar could be dropped as summer signing emerges as serious alternative
Vinicius Jr.’s slow start to the 2026/27 season could have consequences at Real Madrid, with Yan Diomande now emerging as a genuine alternative to the Brazilian winger.
According to a major revelation from Cadena SER, Diomande’s recent performances have opened the door to a possible change if Vinicius cannot rediscover his best level in the coming matches.
The issue became more noticeable during Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Elche.
Los Blancos appeared to be cruising after scoring twice inside the opening half-hour, but Elche fought back to level the game before Carlos Espi’s stoppage-time winner.
Diomande stood out during the contest, while Vinicius struggled to make the same impact, yet again.
Diomande is putting pressure on Vinicius
Journalist Tomas Roncero highlighted the growing competition around Vinicius after Diomande’s display, pointing specifically to the youngster’s versatility across the flanks.
“Beware of the threat posed by Diomande, who played well on the right today and even better on the left,” he said.
Roncero also stressed that Vinicius’ current level cannot simply be ignored because of his importance to Real Madrid.
“I’ve said it, and I suppose Vinicius’s people will be angry as always because here, no matter how much affection you show someone, they don’t realise that at Real Madrid, when someone isn’t playing so well, you have to say so, otherwise it wouldn’t be Real Madrid.”
Simply put, if Vinicius does not respond soon, something he has promised that he will work on, Mourinho may have a decision to make.
Mourinho still trusts Vinicius
Vinicius has registered one goal and three assists in seven appearances across La Liga and the Champions League this season, numbers that show his lack of consistency rather than a complete absence of contribution.
Jose Mourinho, on his part, has continued to express confidence in the forward, with the manager believing his best level will return once the goals begin arriving more regularly.
Still, Diomande’s emergence changes the equation. The young winger has shown he can influence games, while his performance against Elche provided further evidence that he can compete for meaningful minutes.
If Vinicius fails to sharpen his finishing and regain his explosiveness, a spell on the bench would not necessarily represent a loss of faith from Mourinho.
Rather, it could instead be a reminder that even established stars have to maintain their level at Real Madrid.
Real Madrid News
Mbappe hits out at claims on his unhappiness at Real Madrid: ‘Angry at my great aunt too’
Kylian Mbappe has been in the news for a plethora of reasons in recent weeks, starting with his injury and surprise vacation. Beyond that, the Ballon d’Or saga has kept him in the spotlight for a reasonable while now.
The Frenchman, after all, has not held back in speaking out about why he deserves to win the prestigious individual award, and while it is perfectly okay to campaign for the award, it is something that has not usually been done in the past.
In terms of his goalscoring numbers, there is no doubt that Mbappe should be a frontrunner for the award. His lack of a single trophy for both club and country, however, works against his chances.
Mbappe’s sarcastic reply to baseless rumours
Earlier today, there were reports of Kylian Mbappe being angry with Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid for not campaigning for him to win the Ballon d’Or this year.
The rumours, needless to say, portrayed the player in a very bad light and made it seem like the club not making public gestures to acknowledge and back his campaign affected him personally.
Now, the player has himself come out to lash out at the journalists, albeit in a sarcastic manner. Commenting directly below the post making the claim via Fabrizio Romano, the player wrote,
“Yes, yes, I even got angry with my great aunt too.”
Mbappe’s ability to deal with such reports with a tinge of humour, needless to say, is impressive and it can only be good for his image that he spoke out and cut off the news at its roots.
Set to return
There has been significant concern around Mbappe’s fitness in recent weeks after the player left the French national team with an injury after their first game.
The initial diagnosis appeared worrying, but it soon came to light that the player had avoided a major setback by a hair’s breadth.
Now, there is increasing hope that the Frenchman will be back for Real Madrid’s first game after the break against Villarreal, possibly even as a starter.
Needless to say, that comes as a massive positive for Jose Mourinho’s plans ahead of a crucial stretch of the season.
