Vinicius Junior under pressure as Real Madrid renewal fails to end questions over his form

Vinicius Junior’s new Real Madrid contract has done little to settle doubts over his role, with poor form, supporters’ criticism and competition from Yan Diomande now placing the Brazil forward under growing pressure.

Vinicius rejected the possibility of moving to Arsenal last summer and instead signed a lucrative deal with Real Madrid running until 2032. The decision was intended to confirm his importance to the club, but the opening weeks of the new season have raised fresh questions about whether staying in Madrid was best for his career.

The 25-year-old has scored once and provided three assists in his first eight La Liga appearances, playing 585 minutes. Those figures have fallen short of the expectations placed on a player regarded as one of the pillars of Real Madrid’s project.

A bizarre social media conspiracy recently claimed that the real Vinicius had disappeared and been replaced by someone resembling him. The claims even included suggestions that he had died during a cosmetic procedure, although no reliable evidence was offered.

Spanish fact-checking website Maldita reported on 7 October that 10 posts promoting the theory had attracted more than 27 million views. The irony, however, is that Vinicius’ performances have themselves prompted jokes that the player who once produced decisive displays for Real Madrid has vanished.

He was left on the bench for the meeting with Villarreal, while his replacement, Yan Diomande, scored the winning goal. Vinicius later came on but was sent off after a video assistant referee review, adding to a difficult evening and fuelling further debate about his position.

Diomande’s goal was his first for Real Madrid. The young Ivory Coast winger ran on to a pass from Federico Valverde before finishing to secure three important points. His performance does not prove that he is better than Vinicius, nor does one goal show that he can replace him, but it gives Jose Mourinho another option and underlines that selection should not be determined solely by reputation or salary.

Real Madrid’s difficulties extend beyond Vinicius. The presence of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius offers outstanding individual talent, but both tend to move from the left into central areas and require space in which to attack. Their limited contribution to the press can also leave the midfield and defence exposed when possession is lost.

Mourinho therefore faces a choice between prioritising his biggest names and protecting the team’s balance. Vinicius’ omission against Villarreal suggests he is no longer immune from competition, although it does not establish that the manager has made a final decision about him.

The pressure is heightened by Barcelona’s perfect start. After eight matches, they lead La Liga with 24 points, six ahead of Real Madrid, who are third behind Atletico Madrid on 18 points. Arsenal, meanwhile, continue to compete strongly in the Premier League, offering a contrasting picture of stability and collective organisation.

A move to London would not have guaranteed Vinicius success, but his situation in Madrid has made the alternative more compelling than it appeared in August. His renewal was not necessarily a mistake, yet it has not resolved the questions that existed before he signed.

Vinicius must recover his influence, while Real Madrid need a system that allows their stars to work for the team without sacrificing balance. If the poor form continues, with jeers becoming regular and Diomande mounting a genuine challenge, the renewal may come to represent not a solution but a longer life for an unresolved problem.