Marcel Desailly believes Real Madrid should have sold Vinicius Junior last summer. The former France defender is sceptical about whether the Brazilian's link-up with Kylian Mbappe genuinely enhances the team.
During the summer transfer window, Arsenal showed keen interest in Vinicius, contemplating a significant move for the talented winger.
However, Real ultimately secured a new contract with the player, extending his stay until 2032.
This season has proven challenging for Vinicius, who has notched up four goal contributions in ten appearances. In a recent encounter against Roma, he was substituted by Jose Mourinho at the 59th minute with the score at 1-3.
Interestingly, after Vinicius' departure, Real managed to turn things around, clinching a dramatic 4-3 victory. Desailly sees this incident as raising further questions about the team’s balance.
He stated:
I think Real should have let Vinicius go.
The Frenchman highlighted concerns over the combination of Vinicius and Mbappe.
We're once again talking about the duo of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius. So far, they haven’t proven their effectiveness.
Desailly also suggested that a move could benefit Vinicius personally.
In my view, it would have been better for him to leave. That way, we could see if he could overcome all the negativity and pressure surrounding him.
The future might once again become intriguing for Arsenal in 2027. This past summer, the club failed to sign both Vinicius and Morgan Rogers, and following Gabriel Martinelli's departure to Al Hilal, the left-wing position remains one that may need bolstering.
Other potential targets for Arsenal include Kenan Yildiz and Kevin Shade. Yet, if Real decide to revisit the possibility of selling Vinicius, the Gunners could potentially reignite their interest.
Additionally, Real's interest in Michael Olise from Bayern could be a factor; selling Vinicius might enable them to free up funds and space for a significant new signing.
