Vinicius Jr slams Xabi Alonso over unfair treatment in a bombshell revelation from The Athletic that has rocked Real Madrid’s dressing room and thrown the club’s contract talks into turmoil.
The Brazilian superstar, whose dazzling dribbles and clutch goals have defined Los Blancos’ attack, has confided to club president Florentino Pérez that he sees no path to extending his deal beyond 2027 while the tensions with his manager fester.
Sources told the outlet that Vinicius Jr believes Xabi Alonso is not treating him fairly, depicting a “super tense case” that has escalated from quiet complaints to a heated debate within the Bernabéu walls.
The rift, simmering since Alonso’s May appointment as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor, boiled over in a private meeting between Vinicius and Pérez last month.
According to insiders, the 25-year-old winger laid it bare: his relationship with the former Bayer Leverkusen maestro has deteriorated to the point where committing long-term feels untenable.
Over the first three months of the season, these frictions have only grown, with Vinicius voicing concerns about his role, minutes, and tactical deployment.
Club sources hope silverware and strong showings might mend fences, but for now, the star’s camp remains resolute – no renewal until the dynamic shifts.
Flash back to July’s Club World Cup semifinal against PSG, where the cracks first spiderwebbed. Alonso had pencilled in Vinicius for the bench, only to pivot after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury sidelined him. Even then, the Brazilian found himself shunted to the right flank, away from his preferred left-wing perch.
“It was the first sign the move wouldn’t be smooth,” a source close to the player reflected, echoing whispers that have haunted Madrid’s summer.
Fast-forward to October’s Clásico triumph over Barcelona, a 2-1 thriller where Vinicius erupted after his 72nd-minute sub – yelling “Me?!” five times at the fourth official and storming off with a glare that screamed betrayal.
His public apology omitted Alonso entirely, a deliberate snub that spoke volumes about the hurt bubbling beneath. Alonso, the tactician who orchestrated Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga miracle, has defended his calls as collective-minded.
Post-Clásico, he called the matter “closed” after Vinicius addressed the squad with “heart and sincerity”. Yet the Athletic’s deep dive suggests otherwise: Vinicius has started just three of 13 La Liga games, completing only five overall, often yanked early or benched amid a packed schedule.
Teammates like Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo reportedly share similar unease with Alonso’s rotation rigour, fuelling locker-room murmurs that the coach’s methods – while yielding a five-point La Liga lead – alienate the creative sparks.
For Pérez, this is a high-stakes chess move gone awry. Vinicius, Madrid’s talisman with 24 goals last term and a Ballon d’Or whisper, rejected a €20 million annual offer earlier this year.
His camp views the Alonso impasse as a deal-breaker, potentially forcing a sale next summer to avoid a free exit in 2027. “It’s not leverage; it’s reality,” one insider insisted, noting preliminary talks stalled over demands for guarantees on his starring role.
Madrid’s brass, including chief scout Juni Calafat, is scrambling for bridges, but with Champions League clashes against Barcelona looming, the pressure cooker hisses louder. Fans, from São Paulo favelas to Madrid tapas bars, are split.
One viral thread from a Bernabéu season-ticket holder lamented, “Alonso’s genius won us titles, but alienating Vini? That’s tactical suicide.”
Pundits like Guillem Balagué weigh in: “Vinicius thrives on trust; Alonso demands discipline. Clash of cultures, not egos.”
As winter training bites in Valdebebas, this saga tests Madrid’s vaunted unity. Alonso’s Leverkusen blueprint – fluid, unforgiving – propelled Madrid to the top, but at what cost to its soul? For Vinicius, the boy from Flamengo’s streets who conquered Europe with flair and fury, the question lingers: is this unfairness a bump or a breaking point?