Even after the 2-1 victory over Barcelona, which guaranteed the isolated leadership of LaLiga, the most talked about episode the day after El Clásico was Vini Jr’s reaction to being replaced by Rodrygo in the 27th minute of the second half. According to the newspaper Marca, internal sources at Real Madrid said they understood the attacker’s discomfort, but classified the reaction as inappropriate.
— Vinícius can’t put on this show. It is true that perhaps Xabi was ahead of the substitution, but he is the third captain and needs to set an example — a club source reportedly said from Valdebebas, the Merengue club’s training complex.
During the match, the Brazilian reacted with gestures of irritation and visible protests on the edge of the field, demonstrating his annoyance with Xabi Alonso’s decision to replace him.
Despite the scolding, Real Madrid appreciated the fact that the Brazilian returned to the bench and participated in the celebrations on the pitch, hugging the coach and his teammates after the final whistle.
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Xabi Alonso minimizes the situation
Asked about the episode at the post-match press conference, Xabi Alonso preferred to adopt a conciliatory tone. “Now it’s time to enjoy the victory. When the time is right, we will talk about these things in the locker room, of course,” said the coach after the match.
According to the club, the conversation between Xabi and Vinícius has not yet taken place. The squad will have a day off on Monday (27th) and Tuesday (28th) and resume training on Wednesday (29th), aiming for the match against Valencia, on Saturday (1st), again at the Bernabéu.
Real Madrid’s assessment of Vini Jr’s behavior
At Real Madrid, the assessment is that the episode will serve as a behavioral lesson for Vinícius and the squad. The board believes that the group demonstrated the ideal response to Lamine Yamal’s provocations and that the intensity and attitude displayed on the field are the way to continue winning.
In general, the atmosphere at the merengue club is one of satisfaction. The 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu, which ended a run of four straight defeats to their rivals, was seen as a symbol of quality and collective strength.
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