Since Kylian Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid, there has been a clear rivalry between him and Vinicius Junior for the leadership of the club. Previously, Florentino Perez’s administration supported the French star, but things could change in the future. The deciding factor will be the attitude of the rest of the team towards the two players.
Vinicius has been with Real Madrid since 2018 and has already made history with Los Blancos, winning two Champions League titles and several other domestic and regional trophies. Mbappe, who arrived after lengthy negotiations in 2024, has only won two titles with Real Madrid since his arrival: the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.
Real Madrid players side with Vinicius over Mbappe
Journalist Pablo Gallio revealed that the Real Madrid dressing room, including both senior and junior players, almost entirely supports Vinicius Junior and considers him the club’s current star player.
Perhaps what confirms this is that during Mbappé’s absence in February, Real Madrid’s results improved significantly. The players accepted Vinicius as their leader and inspiration on the pitch, and even coach Álvaro Arbeloa benefited greatly from this, both tactically and in terms of team cohesion.
It’s possible that the old guard, specifically captain Dani Carvajal and Fede Valverde, fully support Vinicius, and there’s ideal harmony between the Brazilian and most of the players, unlike the situation with Mbappé.
Mbappé feels isolated at Real Madrid
The renowned journalist indicated that Mbappé feels completely isolated at Real Madrid. He has no one to support him or provide strong backing in the dressing room, including the many French players currently at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Mbappé blames the decline in results this season on certain players and believes that many Real Madrid players have ruined a season in which he achieved remarkable individual statistics and hoped to crown them with one or more major titles.
There’s no doubt that Real Madrid’s players decided to “go to war with Vinicius” when they sided with him against Xabi Alonso, contributing to the coach’s dismissal. Meanwhile, Mbappé was practically the only one supporting the Basque coach in the dressing room.
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Mbappé and Bellingham’s relationship is strained
At the same time, it’s said that Jude Bellingham directly criticized Mbappé, deeming his performances, particularly defensively, weak and one of the reasons for Real Madrid’s poor results this season.
The England international also went to the media, expressing this by alluding to the need for teamwork and other statements, which Mbappé clearly didn’t appreciate.
In fact, the relationship between Mbappé and Bellingham has been strained ever since, and this is reflected not only in their interactions but also on the pitch.
Adding to the tension were several clashes between the pair, most notably after the Getafe match and another in the locker room, where Arbeloa intervened to quell the escalating conflict.
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Which side does Real Madrid’s management take?
Previously, Real Madrid’s management fully supported Kylian Mbappé, and until recently, he was the star of the club’s future project. However, things have changed.
Real Madrid’s management is determined to renew Vinicius’ contract and insists on his presence next season, no longer open to the idea of selling him. This means he will share the spotlight with Mbappé, and perhaps, with the support of his teammates in the locker room, Florentino Pérez might ultimately favor the Brazilian.
