From Real Madrid Hero to Pointed out for the First Time, He Has a Pending Conversation

There are still two days left for Real Madrid to face Celta de Vigo in the Copa del Rey round of 16, a key game for many reasons. One of the most notable is Carlo Ancelotti's continuity, which is highly debated after what happened in Jeddah last Sunday. The aftermath of this defeat against FC Barcelona, however, is not only focused on the Reggiolo coach.

Because in the Valdebebas offices, they consider that several players also didn't perform their best in the season so far. Besides the usual suspects in recent hours, like Aurélien Tchouaméni or Lucas Vázquez, the name Vinícius resonates strongly in the halls of Ciudad Real Madrid.

Especially after his controversial expulsion against Valencia. The volatile behavior of the "7" has been in the background, at least until now, due to his excellent competitive performance. Not for nothing, he was considered the most decisive player in Europe, a 'title' that seems to have been lost in the current soccer season.

The inability of Vinícius to decide games has become evident after the Spanish Supercopa Clásico. Adding to the general poor form experienced by Ancelotti's men, the São Gonçalo attacker barely stood out or threatened the Barcelona goal as many expected him to do.

Unexpected turn

This disappointment regarding his results on the field has cemented a paradigm shift, an unforeseen change since he improved his performance in the 21/22 season. Now his position is not as comfortable as it once was... and he might even be called in for a meeting by the executives led by Florentino Pérez very soon.

The reality is that the white leadership wants top-level results, something Vinícius has consistently delivered until now. However, the open fronts left by the Brazilian "7" are accumulating at an alarming rate and affect factors both on and off the field. The most notable is his hypothetical renewal and the declared interest of the Saudi Pro League in acquiring his services.

The doubts about his continuity past the summer of 2027 would have reduced the patience of the merengue leaders, less willing to tolerate performance failures... following the same pattern as with other players like Rodrygo Goes. Vinícius is far from losing his undisputed status, but he is more susceptible to receiving criticism and warnings from the white leadership.

That's why he has a pending conversation with Florentino Pérez. Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the defeat against FC Barcelona, besides the loss itself, is the decline in the performance of the Madrid team's leader. This development, as unexpected as it is concerning, could change the roadmap of the merengue executives for the next season.