Real Madrid and the bad boy Vinicius

Real Madrid is going through a difficult period with the disappointing performance of Vinicius, who has lost his effectiveness and been associated with controversies.

The day Bernabeu booed Vini

Bernabeu once extended his arms to protect Vinicius Junior as if he were protecting a wounded child who had been treated unfairly .

A year ago, when Rodri won the Ballon d'Or, not only Real Madrid officials but almost all Madridistas stood by him. Applause, chants of his name, a shared sense of injustice.

Vinicius was less effective and more controversial. Photo: EFE

Vinicius went through Christmas 2024 with the FIFA The Best (Player of the Year) award, a belated confirmation that he remains a star, an icon, and the future of Real Madrid.

Just a year later, that same Bernabeu club turned its back on him. In the final match of 2025, a 2-0 win against Sevilla, Vinicius left the field amidst incessant boos.

Vinicius today is like a spoiled child. He no longer knows when to stop , causing a lot of controversy amidst Real Madrid's difficult months .

The Brazilian player is so talented that even performing at just 70% of his potential can make a difference. He 's been spoiled and protected for so long that he's forgotten that love at Real Madrid always comes with conditions.

Here, failure can be forgiven, but prolonged complacency is not.

Over the past year, Vinicius hasn't gotten any worse technically. He still dribbles well, still makes a difference, and still torments opposing defenders. But he's changed for the worse emotionally.

Vinicius argued more with referees, opponents, and opposing fans , reacted more aggressively, and frequently exaggerated his falls .

Every missed opportunity was met with a shrug, a reproachful glance, a complaint to the referee or the stands. That's what Bernabéu dislikes most : the feeling that the players are playing for themselves, not for the team.

"It feels like the whole team is being affected by Vini's behavior ," former midfielder Toni Kroos once stated bluntly.

Vinicius needs to mature.

Bernabeu understands injustice. This legendary stadium once booed Cristiano Ronaldo , but it always knows how to forgive.

Vinicius's problem is a different story. At Real Madrid, you're allowed to be a star, but you're not allowed to be a perpetual victim.

Vin i has lived for so long in the role of the victim – he is the player most subjected to racist attacks, from fans, and rival media – that he doesn't realize that this role is consuming the excellent player within him .

A year ago, when he lost to Rodri for the Ballon d'Or, Vinicius was defended for focusing on playing football.

Now, he's booed for talking too much and not playing convincingly enough to compensate ; or for his behavior against Xabi Alonso publicly.

Vinicius now resembles a spoiled child. Photo: EFE

Vinicius removing his Real Madrid profile picture on Instagram and replacing it with a Brazil jersey isn't a rebellious act by a mature star, but rather resembles the reaction of a child who's been scolded .

He turned his back, sulked, and sought out another place where he could receive unconditional love. Real Madrid , or any other club for that matter, would not accept that kind of treatment.

Vinicius is still loved. The applause mixed with the boos is proof. But it's a love that's being tested.

"The fans are supreme and have the right to freely express their opinions ," Xabi Alonso emphasized. The relationship between the Basque coach and Vini has improved, but he cannot protect his Brazilian protégé.

Real Madrid's inconsistent form is largely due to Vinicius. He hasn't scored in 17 games (14 with Los Blancos, 3 with Brazil), is lazy in his movement, and rarely participates in defensive support.

Every rebellious child has two paths. One is to continue rebelling, blaming others, and living on memories of days when they were defended. The other is to grow up, learn to be silent when necessary, and play soccer instead of reacting .

In 2011, during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich, Ronaldo pressed almost to the point of tears. He ran alone, looking back and fuming at the rest of the team standing still. That's how he earned the love and respect of the Bernabeu.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/real-madrid-lan-dan-alonso-va-dua-tre-hu-vinicius-junior-2476150.html