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La Liga
Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé are back in Real Madrid group training ahead of the Celta Vigo clash, but Vinicius's unresolved contract situation continues to cast a long shadow over the Bernabéu.
Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé are back in group training with Real Madrid, and that alone should be enough to send a chill down Celta Vigo's spine. Both players are expected to feature when Los Blancos take on Celta, and their availability represents a significant boost for Carlo Ancelotti's side as the 2026-27 La Liga season gathers pace.
For anyone tracking Real Madrid fixtures and results this season, the return of this attacking tandem is a headline moment. When both Vinicius and Mbappé are fit and firing, Real Madrid become a different animal entirely. Their dual presence stretches defences to breaking point, and Celta Vigo will know that containing just one of them is hard enough.
Beyond the pitch, the noise around Vinicius Jr.'s future refuses to fade. According to journalist Roberto Gómez, the Brazilian has no intention of leaving Real Madrid, and the club is not entertaining offers. The relationship between Vinicius and the Santiago Bernabéu hierarchy remains strong, according to Gómez, who described the 26-year-old as "Real Madrid's most important player."
That assessment is hard to argue with. Vinicius has been central to everything Real Madrid have achieved in recent seasons, and his explosiveness, creativity, and big-game mentality make him virtually irreplaceable.
But here is the uncomfortable truth for Florentino Pérez and Real Madrid's boardroom: Vinicius Jr.'s contract renewal remains unsigned. Discussions were paused at the end of last season, and while Gómez insists an agreement is still expected, the delay has raised eyebrows across La Liga.
Panellists on Radio MARCA have not held back, with some labelling the delay in getting Vinicius's new deal done as a significant management concern. The logic is straightforward. If Vinicius does not sign a renewal, he could begin negotiating with other clubs as early as January. The spectre of losing your most important player for nothing (or at a steep discount) would be a catastrophic outcome for any club, let alone one of Real Madrid's stature.
Gómez also questioned the feasibility of any transfer away from the Bernabéu this summer, pointing to the financial complexity of any deal involving a player of Vinicius's calibre. A departure this window seems unlikely, but the longer the contract situation lingers, the more leverage shifts away from the club. Arsenal have been linked, and while those rumours feel speculative for now, they will intensify if pen does not meet paper soon.
While Vinicius's contract saga dominates the headlines, Kylian Mbappé's return to full training is equally significant on the pitch. The Frenchman's integration into Real Madrid's attack has been one of the defining storylines of the past twelve months, and having both players available simultaneously gives Ancelotti a front line that few teams in world football can match.
Celta Vigo will need to be tactically flawless to cope with both threats. On current form, that is a tall order.
Real Madrid's short-term outlook is bright: two world-class attackers fit, a winnable fixture on the horizon, and early-season momentum to build. The longer-term picture, however, carries a genuine edge of anxiety. Vinicius Jr. is committed for now, Roberto Gómez is confident a renewal will come, and Real Madrid insist there is no crisis. But in modern football, "paused" contract talks have a way of turning volatile very quickly.
For Real Madrid fans and La Liga bettors alike, the takeaway is clear: enjoy this version of the team while both stars are wearing white, because the boardroom drama lurking in the background is far from resolved.
For those looking to back Real Madrid against Celta Vigo or explore other La Liga match odds, Epicbet offers exciting betting opportunities on all the biggest fixtures and match outcomes across European football.
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