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Amid Bernabéu jeers, mass petitions, and relentless criticism, both Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé have faced intense scrutiny following yet another underwhelming season at Real Madrid — but club president Florentino Pérez has come out swinging in defense of his two marquee attackers.
Following his eye-catching emergency press conference, the 79-year-old Spaniard continued his media rounds on Wednesday, sitting down with LaSexta to tackle the mounting crisis at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Mbappé's situation inevitably took center stage, with more than 52 million people having signed a petition demanding his departure. Frustration toward the French forward reached a boiling point when he chose to holiday in Italy just days before El Clásico, reinforcing the perception that he has distanced himself from the squad that claimed La Liga and the Champions League the season prior to his signing.
Pérez, however, appears entirely unconcerned about Mbappé's fit within the squad, on or off the field. "Mbappé is Real Madrid's best player right now; he's been awarded the Golden Boot," the club president stated.
"There are areas we need to improve, but that's not something I'll get into. I believe he understands what Real Madrid represents. He's scored a lot of goals."
Indeed, Mbappé has topped the club's scoring charts over the past two campaigns, netting 85 times in 100 appearances for Real Madrid. Yet the team arguably performed at their peak this season when he was sidelined and Vinicius Jr once again took control of the attack.
Pérez Gives Vinicius Jr Contract Update
On the subject of Vinicius Jr, Pérez also stepped up to back his No. 7, whose public rift with Xabi Alonso and a prolonged goal drought cast a shadow over the opening half of the season. The Brazilian international rediscovered his best form under Álvaro Arbeloa, however, and now sits just two goals short of equaling his career-high tally from 2023–24.
Despite that resurgence, uncertainty looms over Vinicius Jr's future at the club, with his contract set to expire at the end of next season. The winger has made little headway on an extension, reportedly seeking a record-breaking €30 million ($34.6 million) per year — a figure that would place him as the highest earner at the club.
"I think [Vinicius Jr] is one of the best players Real Madrid has," Pérez said. "He delivered our last two Champions League titles. Negotiations are ongoing. There's no rush."
There may be no immediate urgency, but time is undeniably running out. Reports suggest the club is reluctant to upset an already fragile dressing room dynamic by paying Vinicius Jr more than Mbappé — yet they may ultimately have little choice in the matter.
Can Real Madrid Thrive With Both Vinicius Jr and Mbappé?
It remains the burning question: How does Real Madrid return to title-winning form with both Vinicius Jr and Mbappé spearheading the attack?
The pair have produced flashes of brilliance together, but their underwhelming combined performances have far outweighed the highlights. Both players gravitate toward the same areas of the pitch. Both crave the central role in the attack. Both want to be the creative force and the primary goalscorer.
Perhaps a new season and a clean slate is all they need — though many made the same argument last year. Perhaps the arrival of a high-profile midfielder will help restore balance to the side. Perhaps a new head coach will finally get the two stars pulling in the same direction.
Yet there remains a very real possibility that nothing changes, which could force Real Madrid's hand when Vinicius Jr's contract comes up for renewal. Despite their public declarations of loyalty to the Brazilian, the club may have serious reservations about committing enormous wages to both him and Mbappé when there is no trophy haul to justify the outlay.
Another dismal season and the club may be left with no option but to pull the plug on their ill-fated Mbappé and Vinicius Jr partnership.