Yan Diomande’s rise challenges Vinicius Junior’s place in Real Madrid side

Vinicius Junior’s position as an automatic starter at Real Madrid is under serious pressure, with Yan Diomande’s form giving Jose Mourinho a fresh tactical option before the upcoming El Clasico.

Spanish newspapers AS and Marca have reported that the Brazilian winger is no longer performing at the level that made him a favourite with supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu. His decline has been accompanied by muted jeers from the crowd, including when he was substituted in the 70th minute against Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League.

Vinicius has gone 53 consecutive days without scoring, despite attempting 19 shots during that period. His effectiveness in one-on-one situations has also disappeared: he completed no dribbles against Leipzig or Roma.

The Brazilian left the pitch in silence and with visible disappointment before posting a brief message on his social media accounts: “I’m living in the moment… and everything passes.”

Mourinho has also made clear that Vinicius no longer enjoys guaranteed protection from the manager. His four-match domestic suspension, imposed after he was sent off against Villarreal, gave the club’s head coach a tactical opportunity to leave his leading forward out without having to make the decision himself.

Asked whether Vinicius remained untouchable, Mourinho replied: “The only thing that is untouchable at this club is the badge. I do not like the concept of an untouchable player; what makes a player untouchable is only his performance and his influence on the pitch.”

That stance has been reflected in Vinicius’ recent usage. He has started six consecutive matches without completing a full 90 minutes.

Diomande, Real Madrid’s most expensive signing at 125 million, has moved from being viewed as a long-term investment to becoming one of Mourinho’s most important immediate solutions. He has completed seven more successful dribbles than Vinicius, despite playing significantly fewer matches, and scored a spectacular goal against Leipzig after replacing the Brazilian in the 70th minute.

His value, however, extends beyond his attacking output. Real Madrid have been vulnerable on the left when Vinicius has played alongside Kylian Mbappe, with the pair offering limited defensive support. Diomande has helped address that weakness through his willingness to track back, recover possession and cover the space behind the full-back.

That balance has allowed Mourinho to reshape his attack, with Diomande on the left and Federico Valverde on the right. Arda Guler can then operate closer to Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.

Vinicius will watch El Clasico from the stands because of his suspension, while Diomande is expected to play a central role in Mourinho’s structure.

The numbers underline the contrast. Against Sevilla, Diomande scored once and provided three assists. He then scored against Villarreal before Vinicius was sent off. Against Leipzig, he supplied an assist before scoring Real Madrid’s fourth goal with a powerful strike.

Since the start of the season, Diomande has scored three goals and created four, while Vinicius has one goal and three assists despite playing considerably more minutes.