Vinicius Jr became the center of attention in an unwanted way after the El Clasico, despite being a key player who helped Real Madrid defeat Barcelona 2-1 in a fiery match.
Before the match, Lamine Yamal sparked tension with comments hinting at Real Madrid's "sportsmanship." If the young Barcelona star’s aim was to anger the opponents, he succeeded. Dani Carvajal was seen criticizing Yamal on the pitch, but the one who "exploded" after the final whistle was Vinicius Jr, who became the main figure in a scuffle despite having left the field 20 minutes earlier.
The clash between the fiery Brazilian star and the talented young Spaniard promises to continue in future El Clasicos, but only if Vinicius remains with Real Madrid for many years to come. Currently, that future looks uncertain.
Vini Jr’s contract with Real Madrid expires in June 2027, and both parties are theoretically negotiating an extension. In reality, the Brazilian player feels increasingly sidelined at Bernabeu.
Kylian Mbappe has recently been chosen by the club’s management as the “face” of Real Madrid, which has displeased Vinicius. Previously, he demanded a salary equal to that of the French striker.
Although Vinicius’s attitude has softened somewhat recently, Real Madrid remains unhappy that he used interest from the Saudi Pro League as leverage to increase his contract value. Additionally, the club is concerned about his emotional reactions and behavior, concerns only reinforced by the recent El Clasico.
Ironically, Vinicius performed well against Barcelona, playing a crucial role in the attack. Perhaps that’s why he openly showed anger when substituted.
According to The Athletic, Vinicius irritably told coach Xabi Alonso: “It’s always me. I’m leaving the team, it’s better if I just go.”
After entering the locker room, he returned to the bench where Alonso muttered: “Calm down, Vini, come on…”
This is not the first clash between the two. Previously, Alonso planned to drop Vinicius from the starting lineup in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against PSG — a match Real lost 0-4. If Trent Alexander-Arnold hadn’t been injured before kickoff, the Brazilian wouldn’t have started. When he was used, Vinicius also showed dissatisfaction with being positioned on the right wing.
This incident further reflects Alonso’s tendency to substitute Vinicius during matches. Since the start of the season, he has only played full 90 minutes in 3 games.
Spanish media currently support coach Alonso and Real Madrid in this matter. According to AS: “Vinicius is crossing the line, complaining about being substituted and then provoking Lamine Yamal. President Florentino Perez needs to intervene because this is damaging the club’s image.”
Meanwhile, Jorge Valdano, former sporting director of Real, stated on Movistar: “Vinicius is losing control. He is drifting off course.”
Conflicts with Alonso certainly do not help Vinicius’s contract negotiations. In fact, this could be a turning point leading to his departure from Bernabeu.
Although Vinicius’s on-field performance remains top-level, Real Madrid demands professionalism and respect for discipline fitting a star of his stature — qualities Vinicius Jr has yet to fully demonstrate.