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According to a report by Daily Post on Saturday, October 17, 2026, Former France international Marcel Desailly has urged Real Madrid to consider selling Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr, arguing that his partnership with French striker Kylian Mbappe has failed to deliver the expected results.
Desailly believes the Spanish giants may need to explore other attacking options if they want to build a more effective team, pointing to the difficulties surrounding the combination of two of the club's biggest stars.
The former defender made the remarks while speaking on beIN Sports, where he assessed the relationship between Vinicius and Mbappe and its impact on Real Madrid's attacking setup.
According to Desailly, the partnership between the two forwards has yet to demonstrate the effectiveness many expected when they began playing together at the Spanish club.
“I think Real Madrid should have let Vinicius leave. They need to look for other players,” Desailly said.
He continued by highlighting the recurring debate surrounding the compatibility of the Brazilian winger and Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
“Once again, we are talking about the partnership between Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius,” the former France international added.
“This partnership has not proven successful. So, in my personal opinion as an analyst, I think it would be better for him to leave.”
Desailly's comments have added to the debate over how Real Madrid can get the best out of their attacking players, particularly given the individual quality and high expectations associated with both forwards.
Vinicius has established himself as one of Real Madrid's key attacking players since arriving from Brazilian club Flamengo in 2018. His pace, dribbling ability and attacking threat have made him an important figure in the team's success over the years.
Mbappe, meanwhile, arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu amid enormous expectations after several successful seasons at Paris Saint-Germain and a distinguished international career with France.
However, bringing together two players accustomed to playing important roles in the final third has raised questions about their positioning, movement and ability to complement one another consistently.
Both players are most dangerous when they have the freedom to attack defenders and operate in advanced positions. Finding the right tactical balance between them remains an important consideration for Real Madrid's coaching staff.
Desailly's assessment suggests that the club may have to make difficult decisions if the partnership does not produce the desired results. Nevertheless, his recommendation represents his personal opinion and does not necessarily indicate that Real Madrid are planning to sell the Brazilian forward.
Vinicius joined Real Madrid in 2018 and has since developed into one of the club's most prominent players. His current contract is reportedly due to run until 2032, a long-term commitment that would make any potential transfer a significant decision for the Spanish side.