Vinicius Junior’s decaying relationship with Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso is said to have reached ‘red-hot’ levels of tension as the Brazil star considers his future at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The winger reacted furiously to being substituted with 18 minutes remaining in Madrid’s 2-1 El Clasico victory over Barcelona on Sunday, sparking a very public confrontation with his manager.
Their already tense relationship has escalated to an ‘unsustainable conflict’ and Vinicius feels his status at the club has been disrespected, according to Spanish outlet AS.
But Alonso, who joined in the summer and has guided Los Blancos to a five-point lead at the top of La Liga, is said to have the full backing of Madrid’s hierarchy in any dispute with the Brazilian forward.
The 43-year-old is reportedly ‘seriously angry’ with Vinicius’ behaviour, an attitude which is echoed in the corridors of power at the Bernabeu.
January Exit Considered
All this means that Vinicius is considering trying to leave as early as January, AS claims, although the 25-year-old ideally wants to stay and even extend his contract beyond its 2027 expiry date if the situation can be resolved.
He and Madrid reportedly had a conversation earlier this season about how his influence had been limited and he came away satisfied that improvements would be made, only for the situation to continue deteriorating.
Vinicius has only completed a full 90 minutes on three occasions this season and has also been forced to come off the bench three times, a significant reduction in his role compared to previous campaigns.
With Kylian Mbappe finding his best form since his summer arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, and Jude Bellingham regaining his footing after injury struggles, Vinicius is no longer considered the star of the show despite feeling that he works hard at both ends of the pitch.
Racism and Respect
Couple that with the fact that Vinicius has endured persistent racist abuse from Spanish crowds ever since joining Real Madrid in 2018, and it leads to a scenario where he feels he may be better respected elsewhere.
The Brazilian has been subjected to vile monkey chants and racist insults at multiple Spanish stadiums, incidents that have sparked international outrage and led to stadium bans and fines.
His frustration at feeling undervalued by his own club whilst simultaneously facing hatred from opposition supporters has created a toxic combination that may ultimately drive him away from Spain.
Public Confrontation
On Sunday, Vinicius and Alonso clashed in front of everybody at the Bernabeu after the Brazilian was hauled off with Madrid protecting their slender lead.
When Vinicius saw his number flash up on the substitution board, he repeatedly asked, ‘Me?!’ before calling out, ‘Coach, coach!’ as he reluctantly made his way towards the touchline.
Whilst Alonso kept his distance, cameras caught the manager looking frustrated and muttering, ‘Come on, Vini, damn it…’
After shaking hands with his team-mate and close friend Rodrygo, Vinicius’s protests grew louder and more agitated.
‘Always me,’ he said, raising his arms and addressing Alonso’s assistant, Sebas Parrilla. ‘I’m leaving the team. It’s better if I leave – I’m leaving,’ he continued, before heading straight down the tunnel rather than taking his place on the bench.
Return to Bench
The winger then proceeded to return to the bench moments later where he watched the rest of the match as if nothing had happened, suggesting his outburst was emotional rather than calculated.
In the closing moments he stood alongside goalscorers Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, both of whom had also been replaced by Alonso as Madrid managed the game.
The Brazilian was implicated again when he became involved in a post-match brawl between the two teams that required police intervention.
Post-Match Melee
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal had incensed the Madrid fans and players prior to kick-off when he said the Spanish champions ‘rob and complain’, stoking tensions before the match even began.
Dani Carvajal proved the comments had not gone down well, with the Real Madrid right-back caught on camera appearing to tell the Kopa Trophy winner that he talks too much.
A late challenge by Pedri that drew a second yellow card seemed to be the spark that lit the fuse, as both sets of teams became involved in a temporary scuffle which resumed at the final whistle minutes later.
Vinicius Junior looked to be one of the protagonists of the melee and had to be held back by a member of Real Madrid’s backroom staff as tempers boiled over.
Five players were shown yellow cards in the aftermath and Madrid substitute Andriy Lunin was sent off for his involvement in the fracas.
Alonso Downplays Incident
Alonso attempted to downplay both Vinicius’ reaction to being substituted and the scenes at the final whistle during his post-match press conference.
The Los Blancos boss said: ‘There are different personalities in any dressing room. Right now we will enjoy the win, then we’ll have a conversation, for sure.’
‘The only thing Vinicius was missing was a goal. It’s true that he came off the pitch when he was feeling best and I could have waited a bit to replace him, but I understood that we needed fresh players to maintain control. Vinicius wanted to stay on because he was feeling good.’
‘Franco (Mastantuono) wanted to carry on playing too. He said to me, “Are you taking me off?” And I said, “Yes.” Something similar happened with Vini. He wasn’t very happy, but neither was Franco. It happens to everyone, but I’m very happy with Vinicius’s performance. The schedule is demanding and we have to keep going.’
Vinicius Defends Team
The Brazilian did not choose to comment directly on his departure from the field when speaking to the media, instead focusing on the team’s performance and the post-match confrontations.
He insisted that whilst Madrid ‘did not mean to offend anyone’ with the on-field clashes, the players had to ‘defend our side’ in the heat of battle.
He told Real Madrid TV after the game: ‘We try to maintain a balance, but it’s not always possible. We didn’t want to offend anyone, not Barca players, nor the fans. We know that when we step onto the pitch, we have to defend our side, and that’s how it was today.’
Hierarchy Backs Alonso
Despite Vinicius’ status as one of Real Madrid’s most valuable assets, the club’s hierarchy is understood to fully support Alonso in any dispute with the Brazilian.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder has made an impressive start to his managerial career at the Bernabeu, establishing Madrid as clear La Liga leaders whilst integrating expensive summer signing Mbappe.
Club officials believe Alonso’s authority must be maintained and that no player, regardless of talent or commercial value, can be allowed to publicly undermine the coach.
This backing suggests that if Vinicius continues to clash with Alonso, it will be the player rather than the manager who may have to leave.
Future Uncertain
The situation leaves Vinicius at a crossroads in his Real Madrid career, with the January transfer window potentially offering an escape route if relationships cannot be repaired.
Saudi Arabian clubs have previously expressed interest in signing the Brazilian, whilst Premier League giants could also be tempted if he becomes available.
However, Madrid would demand an enormous fee for a player they purchased for £38 million from Flamengo and who has developed into one of world football’s most exciting attacking talents.
Whether Vinicius’ threat to leave proves genuine or simply an emotional reaction remains to be seen, but the public nature of Sunday’s confrontation suggests the situation has reached a critical juncture.
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