Real Madrid are ‘very worried’ about underperforming superstar forward

However, that decision is already being tested, with the Brazilian enduring a torrid start to the new campaign under Jose Mourinho.

Vinicius has struggled badly for form and confidence, and his dip has quickly become a significant concern at the very top of the club.

According to El Debate, Real Madrid are “very worried” about Vinicius, with his recent displays said to have become nothing short of a matter of state.

The forward is navigating one of the most difficult moments of his entire career, having reached a point where almost nothing is clicking for him on the pitch.

It is a contrast to the player who, at his peak in 2024, was widely regarded as one of the finest attackers on the planet and a genuine Ballon d’Or contender.

The situation is made all the more delicate by the circumstances surrounding his renewal. Vinicius had made clear his desire to become the highest-paid player in the first-team squad, and after months of drawn-out negotiations, Real Madrid had to hand him a lucrative deal.

Although Vinicius is still not the highest-paid player in the squad, he has a hefty salary package but is offering barely the output of one.

For all the concern swirling around him, Vinicius Jr. himself is aware that something must change in the coming months.

The 26-year-old’s current level sits well below the standards he set at his peak, and both he and the club know a turnaround is essential.

However, Vinicius is currently serving a four-match domestic suspension following his red card against Villarreal, meaning he will miss the Clasico as well as a few other key league matches.

For Mourinho, coaxing his gifted but struggling forward back to form may prove one of the defining challenges of his second spell in charge.

Real Madrid invested heavily in Vinicius as a cornerstone of their future, and getting the best out of him again is now firmly among the club’s most pressing priorities.