That’s the verdict of European football expert Andy Brassell, who says Real Madrid could look to rebuild their team if they fail to win any silverware.
4Vinicius Jr faces a three game ban - which would see him miss El ClasicoCredit: Getty
Arsenal attempted to lure the Brazil international to the Emirates this summer amid a stand off over his contract.
talkSPORT reported the Premier League champions were weighing up an approach for Vinicius Jr.
However, the Gunners always viewed him as an option rather than their top target.
The 26-year-old ended speculation by signing a new contract until 2032.
However, all is not well at the Bernabeu for Vinicius Jr under new manager Jose Mourinho.
He has scored just one goal in 10 games in all competitions this season.
Vinicius Jr came off the bench and put the ball in the back of the net against Villarreal on Saturday, only for the referee to rule it out.
He was adjudged to have pulled the hair of an opponent and was given a red card.
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The forward is now on course to miss the first Clasico of the season.
Boss Mourinho has backed him to rediscover his form for Madrid.
4Mourinho has backed Vinicius Jr to rediscover his form this season - but started him on the bench to face VillarrealCredit: Getty
"He is going to emerge," Mourinho said of Vinicius on Tuesday to TNT Sports. "It's just a question of when."
No longer Vinicius Jr’s team
Madrid spent £120m bringing in Yan Diomande this summer. He and Arda Guler started on the wings for Madrid’s most recent game.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.com, Brassell said: “When you consider he's signed this new contract, a lot of this season so far has made you think well did they need to? There were definitely people at Real Madrid who would have been happier and would have felt it was cleaner for him to go to Arsenal.
“They could move forward with Mbappe and Diomande, who has really grown into Real Madrid in recent weeks.
“He [Diomande] has done really well on both sides of the international break. Scoring the winner for his first goal for the club against Villarreal, and I think it's not obvious how the front part of Real Madrid fits together anymore. From Vinicius' perspective it's really unfair.
“It’s a real shame because in 2024 this was his team and he was maybe the best player in the world. If not he was really close. They were the best team in Europe or certainly the European champions at least after that win against Dortmund in the final at Wembley.
4Vinicius Jr has played 385 times for Real MadridCredit: Getty
“So everything that's happened since has been stuff that's been out of his control and it's diminished his power to be impactful on the field. Most of that has nothing to do with him. They're all decisions that are out of his hands.
“I wonder in that context would it have been better if he went to Arsenal where there's a whole new enthusiasm for him.
“He would get to be a star player on an excellent collective team that, with all due respect to Gabriel and Declan Rice and David Raya, maybe doesn't have that wow factor world superstar in it even though obviously they're clearly one of the very best teams in Europe.
“I would have loved to see that. I think in terms of the discipline of what Arteta wants to do, Vinicius has shown in the past that he can be very very useful without the ball. Not so much recently.
“I think it's fair to say Arteta would have made him into the two way player that he's always destined to be because he's a great athlete, he's super explosive. You make him be as good as he can be off the ball as well.
“We're talking about the best player in the world all over again. I know people have had their theories that Arsenal will use some sort of Trojan horse to make sure his contract was seen over the line. I think he's a little bit more than that. I think there was a genuine possibility of him going there.”
4Arteta and Arsenal explored the signing of Vinicius Jr in the summerCredit: Getty
Vinicius Jr to Arsenal still on?
Madrid have surprisingly been trophyless for the last two seasons and are facing that prospect for a third.
Barcelona have already won all eight of their LaLiga games this season and look set to defend their title.
Brassell argued this could force Madrid to reshape their team in the summer, possibly opening the door once again for Vinicius Jr’s exit.
He said: “I wonder if we get to the end of this season and Real Madrid have won nothing again for the third straight season. They're faced with some sort of decision. Do you sell Vinicius? Do you sell Mbappe?
“You've got to do something, you can't just leave it as it is. All the time the guy who's probably your best player Jude Bellingham is thinking come on, build a team around me then.
“So whether it's with or without Mourinho if they don't win this season, and I think there's a decent possibility they win nothing this season. They're going to have to have a bit of a rethink
“Maybe that turns out to be the best thing for Vinicius if he goes.”