Vinícius Loses Core Status at Real Madrid; Mbappé Becomes the Club’s New Leader

According to reports from experts at camel.live, following Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Marseille, Vinícius Júnior has lost his core status at the club, while Kylian Mbappé has emerged as Real Madrid’s new leader.

The report notes that even before kick-off, there was a sense that Real Madrid’s clash with Marseille would be a tense affair. Marseille’s ultras traveled to the Santiago Bernabéu amid a heavy police presence—standard for high-risk matches. They were banned from bringing flags, which ended up in trash cans at the entrances; according to security staff, “political elements are not allowed here,” though the flags were likely national symbols. However, the tension soon shifted to the pitch itself.

Vinícius Divides Real Madrid Fans

“I came to watch Vinícius, and he ends up on the bench,” one fan complained near the stadium. The Bernabéu felt like a pressure cooker, though this was partly due to temperature issues caused by the stadium’s permanent use of its retractable roof.

According to sources within the club, Vinícius’ benching was a decision the player himself had sought to avoid. The Brazilian wanted more than just a substitute role, but he has already lost his key status. “We’re in a period of high demands, and we need everyone. We want all players to be ready—Vinícius, Mastantono, Rodrygo… Have I spoken to Vinícius? That’s a matter to stay within Valdebebas [Real Madrid’s training ground], but everyone will get their chance,” Xabi Alonso responded.

The Basque coach aims to treat all players equally, with one exception: the three core figures he has relied on since the start of the season. These are Thibaut Courtois, who made several crucial saves to deny Marseille; Aurélien Tchouameni, the only midfielder he truly trusts; and Mbappé, his sole star player.

“No one should feel offended by being on the bench. Substitutions had a positive impact on the game,” Alonso added. He hopes to implement the same merit-based system he used during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, even in a Real Madrid dressing room filled with strong egos.

For now, results speak for themselves—and at a club that prioritizes outcomes above all else, results overshadow everything else. Yet the club, as Alonso is well aware, often tends to overreact.

Thus, despite winning all their recent matches, several pieces of tension linger in the air: Fede Valverde refusing to play as a full-back; Dani Carvajal’s avoidable red card; and Vinícius’ body language—sitting on the bench and appearing to tune out Alonso’s instructions, as if they had nothing to do with him. Before leaving the stadium, he pulled down his shorts to reveal his underwear—a deliberate gesture to showcase his main sponsor, Nike, which is a rival of Real Madrid’s official technical partner, Adidas.

Mbappé Is the Sun; the Rest Are Satellites

“Everyone knows it,” said a fan in the Bernabéu stands—stands that had earlier erupted in fury over decisions by the European referee. Talk of a “conspiracy” against Los Blancos (Real Madrid’s nickname) ultimately fuels constant unease and tension, which does no favors for the players. “Sometimes calls go your way, sometimes they don’t,” Fede Valverde defended. Mbappé, meanwhile, agreed with those who argued that the handball decision leading to a penalty while Real Madrid were down to 10 men should not have been given.

What is undisputed is that Mbappé is now Real Madrid’s leader. With his ability, tactical acumen, and talent, he will determine the club’s fate this year. The other players are merely satellites in Alonso’s rotation system.

Yet Mbappé showed remarkable generosity toward Mastantono, allowing the Argentine to earn cheers from the Bernabéu crowd. The left-footed player was fully focused on living up to high expectations but fell short. After overhitting a pass, he exchanged a glance with a Marseille player.

Such moments reveal his personality, but they may work against him. While he is loved by the stands and by Coach Xabi Alonso, Alonso made a point of tempering expectations: “He needs to grow, just like Arda Güler.”

The Argentine admitted that the past few months have been a mix of highs and lows. From his debut after joining the club to wearing Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey, he was also distracted by an unnecessary altercation during international duty.