Real Madrid have had a difficult 18 months, and the same can be said for one of their star players: Vinicius Junior. Since missing out on winning the Ballon d’Or in September 2024, the 25-year-old has struggled to recover his best level, and if this continues to be the case, his future at the Bernabeu could come to an end.

At real money casinos, you can minimize risks while playing, with the same also being said for online casinos. Vinicius is someone loves to take risks when on the football pitch, but he has struggled for form with Real Madrid for some time now.

This season, he has registered only six goals and seven assists in 27 appearances across all competitions. He is on the decline in terms of his output, and his performances have not been much better – although he did stand out during Real Madrid’s Spanish Supercup final defeat at the hands of Barcelona on Sunday.

Vinicius’ drastic drop in form has coincided with Kylian Mbappe’s long-awaited move from Paris Saint-Germain. The France international arrived as a free agent in the summer of 2024, and since then, he has taken over the mantle as Real Madrid’s star man, leaving the Brazilian in the dust in the process.

There have long been questions about whether Vinicius and Mbappe can play together, and it could be no coincidence that the former’s best performances over the last 18 months have come when Real Madrid’s number 10 has not started, as was the case this past weekend in Saudi Arabia.

Vinicius’ Bernabeu future is unclear

Nevertheless, Real Madrid have made it clear that Mbappe is here to stay, which means that Vinicius would be the one most likely to leave. There are certainly chances for him to go, as his contract expires in the summer of 2027 – and more pressingly, clubs are interested in signing him.

The interest being shown in Vinicius means that Real Madrid have a decision to make: should they push hard to agree a contract renewal, or should they cash in now? They would be able to bring in a club-record fee from Saudi Arabia, while a Premier League move has also been touted in recent months.

If he does go, there is an argument to say that Real Madrid would have a more balanced line-up. Mbappe would be free to return to his favoured left wing, which opens the door for a top-level striker to arrive – equally, Rodrygo could be one to play left, with Mbappe remaining as the number nine.

It must also be noted that the Real Madrid supporters have started to turn on Vinicius, who was jeered by the Bernabeu crowd during the club’s last two home matches. When that happens, it is difficult for a player to come back from, which could make it easier for Florentino Perez and his board of directors to move him on.

The next few months will be key to determining whether Vinicius stays or goes. It will be interesting to see how everything plays out.