Xabi Alonso speaks out after Vinicius' outburst in El Clasico

Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu after the El Clasico has become more heated than ever. The focus is not on the goals, but on Vinicius Junior’s furious reaction when substituted in the second half.

In the 72nd minute, with Real Madrid leading 2-1 and searching for a decisive goal, the scoreboard suddenly displayed number 7, Vinicius Junior. Coach Alonso’s decision caused the Brazilian star to lose his composure: he shook his head, raised his hands in frustration, and walked straight down the tunnel instead of sitting on the bench.

Only near the end of the match did Vinicius return to the coaching bench, sitting silently to watch the remaining minutes. However, he drew attention again by engaging in a heated argument with Barcelona players such as Alejandro Balde, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha after Pedri was sent off. Real Madrid’s coaching staff had to intervene to prevent the situation from escalating.

After the match, coach Xabi Alonso stated: “Vini’s personality? Every locker room has different characters. We will enjoy the victory first, then talk later, definitely.”

The Spanish coach believes that players reacting to substitutions is normal in top-level football because they always want to contribute on the field. He emphasized: “There is no issue between me and Vini. He is a passionate player who always wants to stay on the pitch and make a difference.”

This is not the first time Vinicius has reacted strongly when substituted. Previously, in the 2-0 win against Espanyol, he threw a water bottle and showed frustration despite assisting Mbappe’s goal. At that time, Alonso had to take him aside for a private talk. Alonso said then: “The only thing Vini lacks is a goal. Yes, I substituted him while he was playing well because I needed fresh legs to control the match. Vini wanted to stay on, which is normal. Franco Mastantuono also reacted similarly when substituted. This shows how much they both want to play.”

Since the start of the season, Vinicius Junior’s position at Real Madrid is no longer “untouchable.” He has been benched in matches against Marseille, Getafe, and Oviedo. Alonso is implementing a rotation policy to preserve the team’s fitness amid a packed schedule.

So far, Vinicius has scored 5 goals and provided 4 assists. He is expected to return to the starting lineup in the upcoming match against Valencia at Bernabeu. Los Blancos currently hold a 5-match winning streak at home, while Valencia is struggling with 5 consecutive matches without a win.

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