BY :. Osabuohien Imuetinyanosa
Vinicus despite his great contribution to the team’s win against Barcelona, became unruly to the coach for substituting him after about 72 minutes
I’m done with this team!-Vinícius stuns Real Madrid after El Clásico controversy
What started as a spark has become a full-blown crisis. The relationship between Xabi Alonso and Vinícius Jr. has reached a boiling point. A day after El Clásico, the atmosphere inside Real Madrid remains tense and combustible.
The club is standing firmly behind Alonso following Vinícius’ angry reaction to being substituted with about 20 minutes left in the match. The coach was not impressed by the Brazilian’s attitude in a game of such global importance, and made that clear to the locker room.
Vinícius, for his part, believes he has fulfilled every demand placed on him, yet his standing within the team is no longer being respected. While the initial anger has cooled slightly, he is seriously weighing his future. The winger feels Alonso doesn’t truly value him, and that the situation can’t continue. What once looked like a minor disagreement has turned into a widening rift.
Vinícius-Alonso flashpoint in El Clásico:
The breaking point came in the 72nd minute, with Madrid leading 2–1 and Vinícius playing one of his best games of the season. Then the substitution board went up: number 7.
“Me? Me? Mister, me?” he shouted toward the sideline in disbelief. Moments later he muttered angrily in Portuguese and stomped off the field.
The real eruption came seconds later, as he reached the bench. “It’s always me! I’m done with this team! I’m leaving!” he yelled before disappearing down the tunnel.
Real Madrid sides firmly with Xabi Alonso
The outburst set off alarm bells inside the club. From the front office down, Madrid has made its position clear: complete trust in Alonso and full backing for whatever decisions he makes, including this substitution.
At the same time, there is significant disappointment over the player’s behavior and the image it projected. Internally, it’s considered a serious breach of discipline. In similar past cases, players have even been fined.
Vinicius’ perspective conveys that the problem runs deeper than just being benched or playing time. He believes that Alonso doesn’t appreciate his unique style of play, despite him adapting to the team’s needs and sacrificing his attacking influence. The forward feels unrewarded and thinks his contributions to the team are being overlooked.
The situation has been building for weeks. A meeting was held at the Valdebebas training complex on September 22 in an attempt to ease tensions. Vinicius had expressed frustration after being left out of the starting lineup in a few matches and had even considered leaving in the winter. Although the meeting seemed to have smoothed things over, the peace was short-lived. Vinicius was benched again against Getafe, and the substitution in El Clasico reignited the flames. The tension finally boiled over, and Vinicius’ frustration became public.
Vinicius still feels a strong connection to Real Madrid and would like to stay with the club. His contract runs until 2027, and he would ideally like to extend it. However, the current situation is becoming unsustainable for him. He believes that Alonso’s tactical plan doesn’t fit his strengths, and the lack of faith from his coach is evident. With renewal talks stalled, the situation is becoming increasingly tense. If a resolution isn’t reached soon, Vinicius might be forced to consider his options.
The relationship between Vinicius and Alonso is near breaking point, and the tension is felt throughout the team. Real Madrid is standing firm in their support of Alonso, but the situation remains volatile. The club will have to navigate these choppy waters carefully to avoid any further escalation. With Vinicius entering the final year of his contract next summer, the stakes are high.
