A simple change on his Instagram account was enough to send Real Madrid fans into panic mode. Vinícius Júnior, one of the team’s key attackers, removed several iconic posts related to the club, including pinned photos celebrating Champions League titles 14 and 15. He also edited his bio, which was already subtle, but now appears even more neutral.

Although the move sparked numerous rumors about a potential departure, sources close to the player suggest it may have been a reaction to the flood of negative comments he received after a poor performance against Al Hilal in the team’s Club World Cup debut.

Amid Rumors and Recovery, Madrid Prepares Without Mbappé

While speculation surrounds Vinícius, Real Madrid is focused on its next group stage match against Pachuca, a crucial showdown to stay alive in Group H. One major absence is Kylian Mbappé, who remains in Palm Beach to recover from an acute gastroenteritis. The French forward won’t travel to Charlotte and is instead continuing his rehabilitation work at the team’s hotel gym.

Mbappé only trained twice after arriving in Florida and was ruled out of the match against Al Hilal due to his illness. Though his recovery is progressing, he’s still not fit to play.

Full Confidence in Xabi Alonso

Despite the injuries and online noise, the atmosphere in the Madrid camp remains positive. New signing Dean Huijsen praised the squad’s unity and expressed his excitement about working under Xabi Alonso. “He has great ideas, and I believe we’ll have good years ahead with him,” Huijsen said.

Real Madrid will face Pachuca this Sunday at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, with kickoff set for 3:00 p.m. ET. The Mexican side, led by Jaime Lozano, also faces a must-win scenario after falling to Salzburg. For both teams, it’s a moment to prove their strength—on and off the pitch.