Vinicius Jr. breaks his silence and reveals tension with Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid: “We didn’t connect”
The relationship between Vinicius Junior and Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid was far from harmonious, and the Brazilian winger himself confirmed a rift that had been suspected since the famous El Clásico incident in October. At that time, Vinicius publicly exploded after being substituted while Madrid was leading 2-1, expressing his outrage and even suggesting he might leave the club. Now, in a candid interview ahead of the crucial match against Bayern Munich, the young star opened up about the difficult coexistence with the former Spanish midfielder.
“I played, but not many minutes. Every coach has their methods, and I couldn’t connect with him the way he wanted. It was a learning experience, and I hope to continue playing with Arbeloa, with whom I have a wonderful connection and who has always given me confidence,” Vinicius confessed, making it clear that his relationship with Alonso was never easy.
The explosive moment of the substitution in El Clásico, which many consider the turning point for Alonso’s weariness with the dressing room, was also addressed by the Brazilian, who took responsibility for it, although he omitted the coach’s name in his public apology: “It was not a good moment and I apologized to everyone. I like to play every game and not miss any of them. Then, with a cool head, I realized that I was wrong. I am young and every day is an opportunity to learn and improve.”
Vinicius does not hide that his relationship with Álvaro Arbeloa — former Castilla coach and current head of the B team — is very different and positive, with the former Real Madrid player having a decisive influence on the Brazilian’s desire to renew his contract: “I have a special connection with Arbeloa, just as I did with Ancelotti. He always makes it clear what he wants from me. I have always given my best and I will continue to do so. I have never gone so long without scoring, but I learned from this difficult phase and I want to continue to evolve. The best players always know how to bounce back.”
Real Madrid is preparing to face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, entering the clash as clear underdogs after a home defeat to Mallorca that shook the team. Vinicius has called for fervent support from fans to turn around the negative momentum: “The connection between players and fans is fundamental; it always changes the dynamics of home games and in the Champions League. We have a strong team and experience in these matches, so I hope we can do things well.”
Following the setback in Mallorca, which left Real Madrid seven points behind leaders Barcelona in the title race, Arbeloa took responsibility for the team’s lack of focus, something Vinicius explained with ease: “There are good days and bad days; some days we are more focused, others less so, and that’s what happened in Mallorca. We’ve just come back from a period with the national teams, and as the coach said, if we’re not at 200%, we won’t win games. We weren’t as connected as we wanted to be.”
Despite a challenging first half of the season, Vinicius has shown a clear upturn in form since Arbeloa took over, tallying 10 assists and goals in the last 10 matches, including decisive moments against Atlético de Madrid and Manchester City, proving that he is growing and establishing himself as a key player in Real Madrid’s plans.
This is the moment when Vinicius Jr., despite the setbacks, is determined to prove his worth, continue evolving, and lead the team towards titles. His troubled relationship with Xabi Alonso is now part of the past, but it serves as a lesson for a future that promises to be bright at the Bernabéu.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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