Vinicius Junior has apologized to Real Madrid fans after losing his temper when he was taken off during Sunday’s big match against Barcelona. The 25-year-old Brazilian was clearly angry when he found out he was being replaced by Rodrygo with 72 minutes played at the Bernabeu.
When Vinicius Jr saw his number come up, he kept asking “Me?” over and over again. According to The Athletic, he then said he was leaving the team and that it would be better if he just left. After that, he went straight down the tunnel to the changing room without even looking at manager Xabi Alonso. The coach also refused to look at him. Vinicius Jr did come back to sit on the bench later in the game, which Real Madrid won 2-1.
Three days later, Vinicius Jr posted a public apology on X where he said sorry to his teammates, the club, and the president. But he made a point of not mentioning Alonso at all. People close to the player say this was on purpose because he feels the coach has been treating him badly.
A Sorry That Shows Things Are Not Good Between Player And Coach
Vinicius Jr wrote on social media that he wanted to say sorry to all Real Madrid supporters for how he acted when he was substituted. He said he had already apologized to his teammates in person during training. He also said sorry again to his teammates, the club, and the president in his message.
The forward explained that his emotions sometimes take over because he always wants to win and help his team. He also said his fighting spirit comes from how much he loves Real Madrid. The player, who is known as one of the best dribblers in modern football, promised he would keep working hard for the club like he has done from day one.
People familiar with what happened behind the scenes say club bosses were unhappy with how Vinicius Jr behaved. But they were also not pleased with how Alonso dealt with the whole thing. Real Madrid decided quickly that they would not fine the player. The club believes the problem will sort itself out without making a big deal about it.
The Brazilian player has not finished a full game since Real Madrid beat Villarreal on October 4. He has played 13 times for Alonso’s team this season across all competitions. But he has only stayed on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes three times. This is unusual for someone who is among the highest-rated players in the game.
Everyone will be watching closely on Friday when Alonso talks to reporters for the first time since this all happened. Then on Saturday, people will see if Vinicius Jr starts the game against Valencia at home. Real Madrid are currently five points clear at the top of the league after beating Barcelona.
Published: Oct 29, 2025 02:00 pm