Former Real Madrid forward and sporting director, Predrag Mijatović, has raised concerns over the current state of fan support for Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, suggesting that both stars may no longer enjoy the admiration they once received at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Mbappé, who enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in Madrid, racked up 44 goals in 59 appearances across all competitions.
However, his efforts weren’t enough to secure silverware for Los Blancos, as they finished the season without domestic trophies and were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Arsenal.
Vinícius Júnior, once a fan favourite, recorded a noticeable dip in form, managing 22 goals in 58 outings.
Mijatović believes this regression may have played a role in altering the Brazilian’s rapport with supporters.
According to the Montenegrin football legend, the connection between Vinícius and the Madrid faithful may not be as strong as it was in previous seasons, while Mbappé could be struggling with unfulfilled ambitions in his new environment.
“When you have to renew the team and look for the new Modric, Kroos and Casemiro… you can’t remake the team in one summer. The team has to make several important decisions this summer,” Mijatović told the media.
“If Vinicius, Mbappe or Rodrygo are not happy and do not feel the support of the club, they cannot perform. I don’t know if the fans are as in love with Vinicius as they were two or three years ago, or if he has as much respect for them as he did then.
“I keep saying it, accumulating great players, with a lot of market value, is always counterproductive. You have an asset that’s worth a lot, but you don’t get the most out of it.
“As the months go by, the player isn’t happy, and you don’t know if you will be able to sell him the following year.”
With Real Madrid facing a transitional phase, Mijatović’s remarks underscore the challenges the club faces in managing high-profile talents and maintaining strong fan-player relationships amid changing dynamics.