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Marrakech – Real Madrid’s goalless draw at Estadio de Vallecas last Sunday has revealed more tension between Xabi Alonso and winger Vinicius Junior, with multiple clips of the pair expressing frustration at each other making the rounds on social media.
The first clip shows Alonso’s reaction from the sideline as the Brazilian star attempted to dribble past multiple defenders before eventually losing the ball. On the sideline clips picked up by Spanish TV channel Movistar+, the former Spanish international can be seen repeatedly shouting to pass the ball.
🚨🇧🇷 | Xabi Alonso’s reaction after Vinicius tried to dribble multiple defenders:
“Pass, pass, pass, PASS… Oh My God!!!”pic.twitter.com/MrduFXNBRs
— AllThingsBrazil™ (@SelecaoTalk) November 12, 2025
Vinicius was also caught criticizing his manager’s decisions throughout the match, most notably during a second half substitution, saying: “It seems like we don’t want to win today.”
The Estadio de Vallecas outbursts are not an isolated event. Earlier this season, Vinicius made headlines after an emotional meltdown directed at Alonso. The Brazilian winger lost his temper and burst out in frustration after the coach decided to substitute him off at the 72nd minute of El Clasico.
Clearly unhappy with his substitution , Vinicius stormed straight into the locker room, repeatedly shouting: “Always me. I’m leaving the team. I’m leaving. I’d better leave.”
The heated incident cast a shadow over Real Madrid’s 2-1 win against Barcelona, their first El Clasico victory in nearly 18 months.
Despite Vinicius Jr’s ensuing apology and Alonso’s attempts to play the situation down, referring to it as a “closed matter” in a press conference, tensions are evidently still unsettled.
Vinicius on the move?
With his current contract set to expire in June 2027, there are increasingly frequent reports about Vinicius Jr. exploring a move away from Real Madrid, as early as the next summer transfer window.
Sky Sports reports Real Madrid has fixed a €150 million price for any teams interested in signing the winger, citing tensions with Alonso as so high “it seems very difficult to imagine the Brazilian wearing the Merengues shirt next season.”
Real Madrid, aware of the interest that the 2-time Champions League winner might generate in the transfer market, has therefore opened the door for a sale in 2026, with the most substantial offers expected to come from state-funded Saudi Pro League clubs.
Unless there is a significant breakthrough on the Brazilian’s contract extension negotiations, now at a reported “total failure,” the possibility of an exit will continue gaining more momentum.
A clash of egos
Xabi Alonso’s first difficult period since his appointment on May 25 comes at the result of the reported locker room divide.
From a sporting perspective, Los Blancos have fared well. They lead La Liga by three points over Barcelona with only one loss in twelve games. In Europe, they currently stand at seventh, a ranking that would guarantee direct qualification to the round of 16.
Alonso has been largely successful in his relatively young coaching career. During his stint at Bayer Leverkusen, en route to a historic undefeated Bundesliga campaign in 2023-2024, the former Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich player built the reputation of a no-nonsense coach. He is believed to value discipline and punctuality above all else, concepts he preached he would bring over to Real Madrid.
However, there is a fundamental difference between the two clubs. An underreported challenge with coaching clubs of Real Madrid’s stature is managing locker room personalities. Household names like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr. often come with an expectation for special treatment, and as seen on the pitch with the latter, frustration can arise if that treatment is not afforded.
In October, a report from The Athletic indicated that multiple senior figures in the Real Madrid locker room felt disrespected and dissatisfied with Alonso’s management, citing a contrasting style from predecessor Carlo Ancelotti, a popular locker room figure who allowed more freedom on and off the pitch.
Now at what feels like an important crossroads, it falls on Alonso to find the right balance to keep everyone committed to the team’s success. While tensions are high, the 2025-2026 season has only gotten started. And if that balance is struck, the situation with Vinicius Jr. and his co-stars, may yet be salvageable.
