Vinícius Júnior has issued an apology to Real Madrid supporters regarding his response when substituted during the team’s victory in the Clásico against Barcelona.
According to earlier reports from ESPN, Vinícius had chosen to apologize for his behavior, later expressing his regret in a social media post.
The forward was taken off by coach Xabi Alonso in the 72nd minute of the 2-1 LaLiga match at the Bernabéu, replaced by Rodrygo. Vinícius reacted with frustration, gesticulating and shouting as he exited the pitch and heading straight to the locker room.
Reports have indicated that the relationship between Alonso and Vinícius has soured, prompting a scheduled meeting on Wednesday as the team resumed training after a two-day break.
“Today, I want to apologize to all Madrid fans for my reaction when I was substituted in El Clásico,” Vinícius stated in a post on X.
“As I did in person during today’s training session, I also want to extend my apologies to my teammates, the club, and the president.
“At times, my passion overrides my judgment; I always aim to win and support my team. My competitive spirit arises from the love I have for this club and everything it stands for.
“I pledge to continue fighting for the benefit of Real Madrid, just as I have since day one.”
Alonso has excluded Vinícius, the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or runner-up, from his starting lineup on three occasions this season, while discussions about a new contract for the player have stalled recently.
Sources informed ESPN that the club will not impose any punishment on Vinícius for the incident, although a club spokesperson refrained from commenting, stating that disciplinary matters will be handled internally.
“We’ll discuss it,” Alonso remarked on Sunday when asked about Vinícius’ outburst. “I don’t want to divert attention from what’s important. Vini made significant contributions.”
This season, Vinícius has netted five goals and provided four assists in LaLiga, showing improved form over the past month. However, sources have indicated that the player’s entourage feels Alonso does not favor him.
Earlier reports suggested that Alonso had considered benching Vinícius for a high-stakes match, such as last summer’s Club World Cup semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain, until unforeseen injuries led to a change in plans.
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Following his exit from the pitch during Sunday’s Clásico, Vinícius returned to the bench and was involved in confrontations with Barça players, resulting in five yellow cards being issued, including one for Vinícius himself, and a red card for Andriy Lunin.
“A message to all Madridistas, especially those who came to support us at the Bernabéu,” Vinícius commented post-game. “The Clásico brings a lot of events both on and off the field.
“We strive to maintain balance, though it isn’t always achievable… We understand that when we step onto the pitch, we must defend our side, and that’s exactly what we did today.”