Real Madrid’s winger, Vinicius Jr, publicly expressed regret on Wednesday for his outburst following his substitution in Sunday’s intense 2-1 El Clasico win against Barcelona. The Brazilian was taken off in the 71st minute and replaced by Rodrygo, despite his significant role in the winning goal and his dominance over Barcelona’s right back, Jules Kounde, during the heated match.
Vinicius displayed his dissatisfaction to manager Xabi Alonso before heading straight to the changing room, overshadowing what should have been a joyous moment as Real Madrid ended a four-game losing streak against their fierce rivals. While Vinicius apologized to his teammates and club president Florentino Perez, he notably omitted any mention of Alonso in his statement.
In a social media post, Vinicius stated, “Today I want to apologize to all Real Madrid fans for my reaction during my substitution in El Clasico. I have already personally apologized during today’s training session, and I want to apologize again to my teammates, the club, and the president.” He attributed his emotional reaction to his strong desire to win and assist his team, emphasizing his competitive spirit rooted in his love for the club and its values.
Vinicius and Alonso have had a strained relationship since Alonso assumed the managerial role in May. Despite Vinicius’s effective partnership with Kylian Mbappe, Alonso has frequently substituted him in matches this season. Even after storming off the field, Vinicius found himself back on the pitch towards the end of the match, engaging in a heated altercation after Pedri’s dismissal, requiring intervention to prevent further confrontation with Barcelona players.
Real Madrid leads the LaLiga standings with 27 points, maintaining a five-point advantage over Barcelona in second place.