Real Madrid: Bernabeu Day Boycotts Vinicius

Vinicius closed out 2025 in the most unforgettable manner. While Mbappe equaled Ronaldo’s record, Vini was taken off by Xabi Alonso and jeered by the crowd.

Vinicius is surrounded by challenges. He has gone 17 consecutive matches without scoring and has faced the wrath of the Bernabeu stands due to complications over his contract renewal negotiations with Real Madrid.

Bernabeu Turns Against Vinicius

Over two months, Vinicius Junior has experienced two completely opposite outbursts of anger, both reflecting the tense atmosphere he’s been living in since losing his "connection" with the ball. Vini exploded on the pitch when Xabi Alonso substituted him during the "El Clasico" against Barcelona on October 26, while the stands remained silent and club management frowned at the Basque coach’s decision. "I will leave the club," Vini shouted repeatedly at Alonso.

However, last Saturday night, when booed by the Bernabeu crowd as he left the field against Sevilla, he lowered his head, showing no gestures or words, ending with a hug for Alonso in the technical area while whistles drowned out the stadium speakers. Minutes later, he posted a photo with three ellipses and changed his social media profile picture: removing the Real Madrid image and replacing it with one in Brazil’s colors.

The difference in his reactions is striking. From disrespectful behavior toward Alonso to a display of closeness with him. From the stands’ indifference to loud boos. From the club’s support at one time to the present, where Real Madrid’s leadership does not understand his reaction to the whistles and acknowledges the Bernabeu’s "territorial" stance.

Fans, who were slow to turn against the team amid a results crisis, exploded in anger targeting Vinicius and his teammates for much of the match against Sevilla, creating the loudest jeers of the season. During the 2-0 victory in which Kylian Mbappe equaled Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 59 goals in a calendar year set in 2013, boos for the home team persisted throughout, peaking when Vinicius left the field.

Vinicius, substituted by Alonso late in the game, bore most of the blame. He started the match fairly well, active and energetic, frequently receiving the ball with his back to defenders, facing them, and entering the penalty area, but lacked sharpness in the final meters. Still, if Mbappe had finished more routinely on a few chances, Vinicius might have left the pitch with some assists. However, the ending put him in the spotlight. He disappeared from the game both offensively and defensively, and the crowd "settled accounts" for his poor months right then.