The Real Madrid's big mistake last summer

The biggest mistake in the sports planning of Real Madrid was not selling Vinícius Jr when Arsenal had a ready offer of 200 million to sign him in the summer. And the mistake grows every time Yan Diomande makes a difference on the left wing.

The board chaired by Florentino Pérez prioritized the renewal of the attacker's contract before the start of the 2026-2027 season, a decision that is now considered a serious strategic mistake due to his poor performance of 1 goal and 3 assists in 731 official minutes.

Vinícius's Decline and Incompatibility with Kylian Mbappé

The decision to keep the 26-year-old player has created a tactical problem in the team's offensive scheme. The presence of the Brazilian—also suspended for 3 pending games in LaLiga following his aggression in the match against Villarreal—blocks Kylian Mbappé's natural occupation of the left flank, a key element around which Florentino Pérez designed the sporting project.

Furthermore, retaining the South American international prevented a net income of 200 million euros that could have been used to urgently sign a playmaking midfielder.

Yan Diomande Exposes Florentino Pérez's Planning Error

The performance of winger Yan Diomande, acquired for 140 million euros, highlights the misstep of the white leadership. The forward has recorded 2 goals and 3 assists in 546 minutes (11 matches), showing a significantly higher effectiveness on the left wing with less playing time than that exhibited by the Brazilian.

Handing over the starting position on the left flank to the young signing and using the financial injection from Arsenal to balance the midfield was considered the optimal path for the squad.

The board of Real Madrid will assess the attacking situation during the upcoming official games in the coming months.

If Vinícius's performances do not show a drastic improvement after serving his LaLiga suspension or in the Champions League, the white board will reconsider his transfer in the next summer transfer window.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El gran error del Real Madrid el pasado verano