Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has dismissed any suggestion of tension between himself and Vinícius Junior.
The French international became the latest ‘Galáctico’ at the Santiago Bernabéu in the summer of 2024, joining an already star-studded squad in the Spanish capital, one filled with talent and a few big egos.
Brazilian forward Vinícius Junior has been a key figure for Los Blancos in recent years, playing a vital role in securing two Champions League titles.
However, with the arrival of Mbappe and the rise of Jude Bellingham, he now finds himself sharing the spotlight.
Recent reports have hinted at divisions within the Real Madrid dressing room, but Mbappe insists there’s no truth to those claims.
He told La Sexta: “The relationship is very good, it’s normal for people to talk about us, about two famous players who make a difference, but I came with the idea of playing with Vinicius.
“I can’t imagine a Real Madrid without Vini. We play well, we can be better. People expect more from us and that’s normal. We’re good together and it’s the most important part of the season. We’re going to try to help Madrid win as much as we can.”
Mbappe has also explained why he chose to join Real Madrid as his contract with Paris Saint-Germain was nearing its end, ultimately becoming a free agent.
He added: “There are things more important than money. I wanted to play for Real Madrid, here at the Bernabeu. For me, the most important thing is to be happy.
“I was absolutely certain (that I would end up at Madrid). I had great confidence in my abilities, and it was what I had wanted with all my heart since I was a child. I always had in my head the idea of playing for Real Madrid.”
Mozambique, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Korea’s Busan Technopark, is set to enhance its natural disaster readiness with a new drone-based initiative. The Drone-Based Disaster Management Project, supported by a $967,000 grant from the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Trust Fund, will establish a drone training centre in Mozambique and provide training for 30 professionals, including ten who will serve as instructors.
According to the AfDB, the project will deploy a drone-powered monitoring and response system across five flood-prone regions. Given Mozambique’s frequent encounters with floods, mudslides, cyclones, and other climate-induced emergencies, this initiative is expected to boost real-time disaster tracking, early warning capabilities, and advanced flood prediction models, thereby enabling the country to better forecast and manage weather-related disasters.
Scheduled to run for six months, the programme aims to evolve into a regional centre of excellence. Muchanga Américo, Mozambique’s minister of communication and digital transformation, praised the project as a technology-driven strategy to bolster disaster preparedness and response.
Flavio da Gama, AfDB country economist, described the initiative as being about “harnessing innovation to protect communities and infrastructure.” He further remarked: “This project is not just about technology. It reflects the power of international cooperation, uniting governments, development institutions, and private sector partners in a shared mission: to protect lives, strengthen resilience, and promote sustainable development.”
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