Real Madrid Get Kylian Mbappe-Vinicius Jr. Update: 'Ego Problem' Revealed

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. are described as getting along off the pitch, but struggling to connect on it—an issue now being targeted by coach José Mourinho. According to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, the relationship is not marked by hostility; rather, their contrasting tendencies complicate shared defensive responsibilities and how they occupy spaces. A Valdebebas source said they “don’t connect” during games and both compare themselves in their approach, with one failing to defend meaning the other follows. The problem is highlighted in Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Atlético de Madrid. Mourinho has reportedly used a 4-2-3-1 to manage spacing on counterattacks and is not considering benching Vinícius for now.