Overview
- Vinícius Júnior reacted angrily to his Clásico substitution, was heard saying he would leave, and headed straight to the tunnel without acknowledging Xabi Alonso.
- Midweek, the forward posted an apology to fans, teammates, the club and the president but did not name Alonso, underscoring lingering personal tension.
- Alonso said a team meeting addressed the incident, praised Vinícius for speaking sincerely, and confirmed there will be no internal punishment.
- Spanish outlet Sport reports the relationship is described as irreparable and claims Vinícius has issued an ultimatum over Alonso's future, with any exit scenarios framed as possibilities given his contract through 2027.
- The Athletic details tighter schedules, added gym work, expanded video analysis and stricter access rules under Alonso that some senior players dislike, while separate reports cite presidential frustration and pundit Christophe Dugarry’s public criticism of the player.