'Chinese torture' - Kylian Mbappe & Vinicius Junior connection issues at Real Madrid explained as Jorge Valdano makes Ronaldo comparison

Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer brought high expectations. However, the French forward has had to adapt to a central striker role, given that Vinicius holds his position on the left wing. After a difficult start to his life in the Spanish capital, the 2018 World Cup winner has gradually settled into his new position. With time, he has also developed a better understanding with his Brazilian teammate, but the pair remains under scrutiny as speculation continues to brew about the bond they share off the pitch.

Both Mbappe and Vinicius were criticised following their unimpressive performance in the Champions League last-16 first-leg clash against Atlético Madrid, where neither was able to make a significant impact. But former Real Madrid player and manager Valdano believes that they are naturally goal-oriented, which can sometimes hinder their ability to link up effectively and has nothing to do with their personal relationship in the dressing room.

Speaking on Movistar's El Tercer Tiempo, Valdano said: "They are two players who have a better relationship with the opposing goal than with the game, than with the association. They are accused of not finding each other, but that has to do with their characteristics. They are two great sprinters and they have the goal between their eyebrows."

Interestingly, he suggested that at times, they overcompensate by deliberately seeking each other out, even when a better option might be to take a shot themselves.

"What's more, sometimes I have the feeling that they exaggerate the search for each other when the play calls for a shot instead of a pass," he continued. "In fact, it seems that in order for them to be considered innocent, they look for each other more than they should."

Valdano, who has worked with some of the greatest forwards in history, compared Mbappe and Vinicius to Brazilian legends Ronaldo Nazario and Romario. He emphasised that certain types of attacking players excel when focused purely on scoring, rather than being expected to contribute extensively to build-up play.

"It is also said that Vinicius and Mbappe do not run enough, but it is impossible for these players to run with endurance efforts," he said. "I trained Romario and I had Ronaldo at Madrid, and making them run around the field was a Chinese torture. They couldn't, they couldn't. What's more, if you played a possession game they would completely ignore it. Now, you put a goal against them in training and they were the best in the world. What you have to do is exploit what they were bought for."

Valdano went on to dismiss that Mbappe and Vinicius may not have the strongest personal relationship, asserting that personal friendships are irrelevant to how players link up during matches.

"The accusation that they are not sufficient friends because they do not seek each other out does not fit," he said. "I am not going there. I do not know what degree of complicity they will have off the pitch, but the fact is that complicity is not obligatory in the locker room. I have known very difficult relationships between players, but on the pitch they understood each other because there was a footballing harmony."

Both Mbappe and Vinicius will be under pressure to deliver when Real Madrid play against Atletico Madrid in the return fixture at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday. Avoiding defeat will seal a berth in the Champions League quarter-finals having won 2-1 in the first leg.