Madrid, Spain— Former Real Madrid player and sporting director Predrag Mijatović believes that fan enthusiasm for Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior has notably declined in recent times.
Mbappé had an impressive first season at the Santiago Bernabéu, scoring 44 goals in 59 appearances. Despite his individual excellence, Real Madrid failed to secure any domestic trophies and were eliminated at the Champions League quarter-final stage by Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Vinícius Júnior’s form dipped, with 22 goals from 58 matches, and Mijatović suggests this decrease may have weakened his bond with the supporters compared to previous years.
Speaking to the media, the Montenegrin highlighted challenges in refreshing the team after the era of Modrić, Kroos, and Casemiro.
“Rebuilding the squad can’t happen overnight,” Mijatović said. “Several important decisions await this summer. If players like Vinícius, Mbappé, or Rodrygo feel unsupported or unhappy, their performances will suffer. I’m not sure fans are as passionate about Vinícius now as they were two or three years ago, nor if he shares the same respect for them.”
He warned that accumulating numerous high-value stars may be counterproductive.
“Having valuable assets is good on paper, but if the players aren’t happy over time, it compromises their output. This can lead to uncertainty over whether they’ll be sold next year,” Mijatović added.
The comments underscore ongoing pressure on Real Madrid to successfully transition while maintaining player morale and fan engagement.
By Enoch Odesola | July 21, 2025
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