Vinicius Jr. Must Rediscover His Edge, Warns Julen Guerrero
Julen Guerrero has delivered a blunt warning to Vinicius Jr., insisting the Brazilian must rediscover the hunger that once made him one of Real Madrid’s most terrifying weapons.
The Athletic Bilbao icon sees a very different player to the one who used to tear full-backs apart for fun.
“Far from his best form”
Vinicius has stumbled through an uneven start to the 2026/27 campaign. The bursts of electricity are still there, but they come and go. The constant menace, the relentless dribbling, the ruthless edge in front of goal – all dulled.
For Guerrero, the problem runs deeper than a few missed chances.
“Vinicius doesn't seem to have the same ambition and desire as before, the drive to attack, to take on defenders, to do all the things he does so well.
“He seems more complacent and is making a lot of mistakes. He needs to rediscover the joy of wanting to be number 1, as he has wanted to be for so long.
“Right now, he's far from his best form,” Guerrero said, speaking to Defensa Central.
The criticism cuts at the core of Vinicius’ identity. This is a player who built his reputation on daring – on always demanding the ball, always driving at his marker, always playing on the edge. Guerrero’s message is simple: that edge has to come back.
Mbappé not the answer on the left
There is no shortage of star power at the Bernabéu, and when a forward dips, the obvious question follows: can Kylian Mbappé simply slide across and take over?
Guerrero doesn’t buy it.
“I don't see Mbappé on the left. I think Mourinho wants to get Vinicius back to his defensive role, and I don't think Mbappé is suited for that.
“He's focused on goals, on being up front, and resting when he doesn't have the ball. That's why Mourinho doesn't see him playing alongside Espi.”
In Guerrero’s eyes, Mbappé’s game is built around finishing, not tracking back or patrolling a flank for 90 minutes.
“I see him more as an attacking midfielder with freedom, with Espí pinning the centre-backs, than on the left. In his mind, he wants to stay up front. In any case, that position belongs to Bellingham,” he added.
So the message is clear: that left wing is still Vinicius’ territory. Mourinho will back him, but the responsibility sits squarely with the Brazilian to raise his level and match the demands of the role – both with and without the ball.
Madrid’s dangerous habit
Guerrero’s concerns don’t end with Vinicius. He sees a broader issue creeping into Real Madrid’s performances.
Their 3-2 win over Elche should have been routine. It wasn’t.
Real raced into a comfortable two-goal lead, then let it slip, only for Carlos Espí to snatch the points in stoppage time. The drama thrilled the neutrals. It worried Guerrero.
“What's most concerning is their switching off. The first half was comfortable, without playing excellent football, but with everything under control.
“They didn't press high, nor did they seem to have tremendous ambition. Elche combined quite comfortably, but Madrid has much more firepower.”
It’s a sharp observation. Madrid’s quality still bails them out, but the lapses in intensity, the casual spells without the ball, leave them exposed.
For Vinicius, that wider picture matters. A sharper, hungrier version of himself doesn’t just transform the left flank; it changes the way Madrid defend from the front, the way they suffocate opponents, the way they close out games instead of inviting chaos.
Guerrero has drawn the line: the shirt, the role, the responsibility are all still there for Vinicius. The question now is whether the fire that once defined him returns quickly enough for Madrid’s season.
