Xabi Alonso clears the way for Vinicius

Xabi Alonso’s dismissal inevitably affects the talks over Vinicius’ contract renewal, which Real Madrid will have to resume shortly. The conflict between the coach from Tolosa and the Brazilian was one of the main factors that worked against him, but it was also a source of frustration for the player himself, who felt undervalued to a degree by the now former Real Madrid coach.

So much so that there was a point – even before Vinicius’ angry reaction to being substituted in El Clásico, which went viral worldwide – when the star was convinced that if Xabi Alonso stayed at Real Madrid beyond the summer, there was a strong chance he would look for a way out. Those were the weeks when Alonso routinely substituted him and even left him on the bench in a couple of games.

Vinicius could not understand why, despite following instructions and putting in the defensive work, his status earned over previous seasons was not being respected. He felt a departure was necessary. In fact, he was one of the few players in the squad who did not post a farewell message to Alonso on social media.

While it is true that time later softened the situation, after Alonso came to understand Vinicius’ importance to the team and the club – where he is one of the key assets – the coach’s exit now definitively clears the path for the Brazilian to renew his contract. That intention aligns with the club’s stance, which wants him to stay.

A moment of maximum tension

“It’s always me! I’m leaving the team! I’m leaving – I’m better off leaving!” Vinicius was seen shouting during that substitution in El Clásico. That was the peak of the breakdown between player and coach. The forward later did not include Alonso in his public apology. By then, he had been benched in three straight games, and in the matches he did play, he was substituted in all but two.

At that stage, Kylian Mbappé had played every game. Vinicius had started ten matches, while the recent signing Mastantuono had started nine. All of this led Vinicius to conclude that Alonso did not want him in the squad and that leaving was the preferred option.

In the end, the situation appeared to be patched up, with both figures settling into an uneasy calm once Alonso stopped benching the Brazilian unless injury intervened. Club and player will soon reopen talks over a contract that runs until June 2027. Vinicius is clear that he wants to stay – now more than ever without Alonso – and Real Madrid are equally clear that they want him to continue.