Vinicius Jr’s frustrated reaction when he was substituted against Barcelona was not a sign of total rebellion or a hint at an immediate departure.
It was, however, another reflection of a growing tension between the Brazilian star and his Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso – one that will need delicate management if it’s not to escalate further.
Is he really thinking of leaving?
Yes, or at least he has thought about it.
When Vinicius muttered “I’m going to leave this team” as he was replaced in Sunday’s El Clásico win, it wasn’t a new thought. That idea had already surfaced at the end of the last transfer window.
No formal offer ever arrived, and those close to the player later recognised the comments were largely emotional, a reaction to a clash with Xabi Alonso before the Club World Cup match against Paris St-Germain.
Still, it reflects the player’s sense that something fundamental has changed. Vinicius no longer feels “untouchable”. Under Carlo Ancelotti, he had the freedom to express himself, to improvise, to lead by instinct, and be the creative heartbeat of a side that often revolved around him. Under Xabi Alonso, the environment is more structured, or if you listen to some representative of some players, ‘more rigid’ – a clear tactic to undermine what is being done.
The Basque coach has come to Real Madrid to impose structure, to create consistency and positional discipline, a team with defined patterns and shared responsibility. Many in the dressing room, Vini Jr included, are still adjusting. For them, Xabi Alonso’s methods feel unfamiliar and less forgiving. For the coach, that structure is non-negotiable after a season of underachievement. It is the style he believes in and that brought him to the club.
Has he fallen out with Xabi Alonso?
There has been tension and, at times, the atmosphere has been cold between Vinicius and Xabi Alonso, and he did not reference his manager in his apology on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident that defined the current mood came in the final training session before the Club World Cup semi-final against PSG. Vini, who had started every match until then, was told he would be a substitute. He did not take it well and Xabi Alonso stood firm, determined to show that no player, however talented, is beyond instruction.
That dynamic has continued.
The manager has insisted Vinicius will not finish every game, that he needs to rest more, and Rodrygo will challenge him for a place on the left side of the attack. Xabi Alonso’s stance is rooted in authority and planning. Vini Jr, used to being indulged, has found it hard to adapt.
The coach’s approach is consistent with the way he was as a player: methodical, controlled and, on top of that, he has the personality to be unafraid of confrontation. He wants every member of the squad to understand who sets the tone. For him, managing Real Madrid means creating order, not deferring to star power.
Vinicius, meanwhile, feels treated like any other player when he expected a closer, more personal relationship. The warmth he shared with Ancelotti is missing, replaced by professional distance.
What do the hierarchy make of it?
At the highest level of the club, the balance has clearly changed.
The focal point of Real Madrid’s project has moved from Vinicius to Kylian Mbappe and the Brazilian is finding that difficult to accept.
Madrid’s leadership insists they still see Vinicius as vital to the team’s future and want him to stay long term. The club’s intention remains to renew his contract until 2030. Yet, in the summer, the player himself put talks on hold. He believes the club has not protected him adequately – from media criticism, refereeing controversies, and what he perceives as a lack of appreciation.
Today, he would not sign a renewal under current conditions. If the relationship with Xabi Alonso remains distant and the substitutions continue, that hesitation will persist. But things in football change quickly. If the two rebuild trust, the contract will follow.
To understand Vinicius’ reactions, it helps to know where he comes from. His childhood in Sao Goncalo, on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, was shaped by hardship and constant struggle. He grew up seeing the world as a place where you have to fight to be heard. That upbringing forged resilience, but also defensiveness. When Vinicius feels disrespected, he reacts. Team-mates describe him as “not a bad person, just impulsive”, someone who takes things personally but quickly calms down.
‘A truce, not a resolution’
What we’re witnessing now is a truce, not a resolution.
Vinicius apologised publicly and also to the group, after Sunday’s events, and Xabi Alonso accepted it, though the manager was not mentioned in the apology. Only the fans, club, and Vini Jr’s teammates.
The manager knows he needs the player’s intensity and unpredictability, while Vini Jr recognises open confrontation would only hurt him and the team.
Xabi Alonso will not compromise his methods. His authority is central to what he’s trying to build and Vinicius will have to learn to channel his emotion into performance rather than frustration. For both, this is a test of maturity.
Another high-stakes match will come soon and with it, perhaps another challenge. If Vinicius starts and shines, the noise will fade. If he sits out, there could be another flare-up. But there is also hope this episode has been instructive.
The club hierarchy is calm, Xabi Alonso remains firm and Vinicius – at least publicly – contrite. The apology may not heal everything, but it buys time.
Real Madrid’s dressing room has weathered bigger storms. This one, for now, seems contained.
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