The Gesture That Sparked the Controversy

El Clásico ended with a 2–1 victory for Real Madrid, but the celebration was overshadowed by Vinícius Junior’s reaction after being substituted by Xabi Alonso twenty minutes before the final whistle.

The Brazilian left the pitch visibly upset, ignored his coach’s handshake, and headed straight to the locker room. A few minutes later, he returned to the bench—but by then, the controversy had already erupted.

In the post-match press conference, Xabi Alonso tried to defuse the situation, assuring the media that it would be handled “internally.” “There are different personalities in every squad, and you have to understand them,” the coach explained.

Apologies in Public and in Private

Three days later, Vinícius decided to face the issue head-on. Through a statement on his social media accounts, Real Madrid’s number 7 apologized to the fans, the club, and his teammates:

“Today, I want to apologize to all Real Madrid supporters for my reaction when I was substituted during El Clásico. Just as I’ve already done in person during today’s training, I also want to apologize once again to my teammates, the club, and the president.”

The Brazilian admitted that his competitive nature sometimes gets the best of him:

“Sometimes my passion drives me too much, as I always want to win and help my team. My competitive spirit comes from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents.”

Is the Case Closed for Xabi Alonso?

At Valdebebas, the gesture was seen as an act of maturity. Vinícius has already apologized face-to-face to his teammates, and within the dressing room, there’s confidence that the incident won’t affect his place in the starting lineup.

Still, Xabi Alonso will have the final say on whether his outburst carries sporting consequences. For now, the player promises to keep fighting “every second for the good of Real Madrid, just as I’ve done since day one.”
Time will tell whether the apology is enough… or if forgiveness still needs time to heal.