Florentino Perez Defends Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe: ‘They Are the Two Best in the World’

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has moved to publicly defend his club’s two marquee attackers, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé, after a season in which both players faced significant scrutiny from supporters and pundits alike.

Speaking on the matter, Perez was unequivocal in his assessment of the duo’s quality, directly dismissing suggestions that the pair cannot function effectively together on the pitch. “It’s nonsense. They are the two best in the world,” he said, according to Pulse Sports.

The defence comes against a backdrop of considerable unrest among the club’s fanbase. Madrid failed to win a major title in back-to-back campaigns, and frustration reached a notable level when supporters reportedly signed millions of petitions calling for Mbappé to be removed from the squad — an unusually pointed show of dissatisfaction directed at a player who only joined the club ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Perez also addressed speculation surrounding Vinícius Júnior’s contractual situation, flatly contradicting reports suggesting the Brazilian is demanding excessive wages to extend his stay at the Santiago Bernabéu. “I would love for him to stay for life,” the president stated, adding: “They say he is asking for a lot of money, but that’s a lie.” Vinícius has been among the most decorated forwards in European football over recent seasons, finishing as a key figure in Madrid’s run of Champions League successes, and his potential departure would represent a significant blow to the club’s attacking identity.

On the subject of Mbappé, whose performances drew criticism during the closing stages of the season, Perez offered a tactical explanation rather than a personal defence. “Mbappé has played in a position that was not the one he had been playing in at PSG,” he noted. “That has also unsettled him a bit.” The French forward, who scored prolifically as a central striker at Paris Saint-Germain, has at times been deployed in a wider role at Madrid, a tactical shift that sources suggest has contributed to a period of adjustment.

When pressed on the question of who will take charge of the first team going forward — Madrid are reportedly in the process of appointing a new head coach — Perez declined to name any candidates. He did, however, take the opportunity to reflect positively on the tenure of José Mourinho, whose time at the club preceded the era of Champions League dominance that followed. “He gave us tremendous competitiveness,” Perez said of the Portuguese manager. “With him, we reached three Champions League semifinals and, for various reasons, we did not make it to the final. And from then on, the others, who were also good coaches, won six Champions Leagues in 10 years.”

Despite the praise for Mourinho, Perez was careful to distance himself from any suggestion that a return was imminent. “But I have not spoken with Mourinho,” he clarified. The president also stressed that no decision on the managerial position has been finalised, noting that his immediate focus remains on the club’s upcoming electoral process.

The comments arrive at a pivotal moment for the Spanish giants. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching — a tournament at which both Mbappé and Vinícius are expected to feature prominently for France and Brazil respectively — the form and stability of Real Madrid‘s attacking core will be under considerable scrutiny in the months ahead.