Manager’s comments come amid reports that Vinicius will not renew his contract while his relationship with Alonso remains sour
Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has played down talk of unrest with Vinicius Junior, despite the winger telling the club he will not sign a new contract due to tensions with Alonso.
Vinicius has been unimpressed by Alonso’s habit of either substituting him or starting him on the bench. The player is not getting as many minutes as he would like and feels he is being treated unfairly by the manager.
The case blew up in public after Vinicius displayed his anger after being substituted in the 72nd minute during October’s clásico, one of the biggest games for the club every season, with many high-profile attendees.
The Brazilian later apologised publicly for his reaction, but he deliberately did not mention Alonso in his apology, despite mentioning key figures such as the fans, his teammates and Madrid president Florentino Perez.
Vinicius’s current deal expires in 2027, but it is understood he will not sign an extension while he continues to have a poor relationship with Alonso.
Alonso has stressed that managing egos and dressing-room tension is part of the job at Madrid.
“It’s just as important as the footballing philosophy, the tactical and physical work, managing personalities, and it’s a process with different phases that you have to know how to navigate,” said Alonso.
“It’s demanding, but I’m certainly not the first manager to have to deal with these situations. I think a lot about what Carlo [Ancelotti], [Jose] Mourinho, or [Manuel] Pellegrini would have done. These aren’t new situations. We have to know how to deal with them.”
Even though things may ultimately descend to a power tussle between the manager and the star player, Alonso said he feels no need for public reassurances from the club hierarchy.
“I’m not focused on that,” Madrid’s manager said. “I’m focused on the players, on what we can control.
“We have the usual day-to-day communication with the president. I spoke with him this morning, and I also speak with Jose Angel [General Manager and Perez’s right-hand man] every day or two.”
