Under coach Carlo Ancelotti, forward Vinicius was considered an “untouchable” figure at Real Madrid. However, since the managerial seat at Los Blancos was handed over to Xabi Alonso, Vinicius’s status has no longer been as secure as before.
Last weekend, Real Madrid defeated Real Sociedad 2-1 to extend their winning streak to four matches. In terms of points, this can be considered a success, but the team also suffered a setback when defender Huijsen was sent off.
For Vinicius personally, he even experienced disappointment on a day when Los Blancos celebrated a triumphant victory. The reason is that the Brazilian forward, born in 2000, delivered a lackluster performance against the Basque side. By the 68th minute, he was substituted off for defender Raul Asencio. That was also the moment when coach Alonso replaced Ceballos with another defensively oriented player, Alexander-Arnold.
Two consecutive substitutions clearly showed Alonso’s priority on safety, as Real had yet to build a significant lead over Sociedad and were down to 10 men. The problem, however, is that Vinicius did not show much sympathy for his Spanish manager. When leaving the pitch, he still shook Alonso’s hand, but his expression was gloomy rather than cheerful as usual. Known for letting emotions override reason, Vinicius simply could not hide his disappointment at not being allowed to finish the match.
Previously, Vinicius had grown accustomed to being pampered by Ancelotti, so being taken off midway through a game can be considered a major shock for him. The danger is that spontaneous players like Vinicius usually perform best when in a state of euphoria. Conversely, when he feels “unsettled,” his form tends to decline. Once trapped in that vicious cycle, it becomes very difficult for him to find balance again.
A Message from the New Coach
It is worth noting that before La Liga resumed following the international break, Vinicius was not called up by Brazil to prepare for the final rounds of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Logically, avoiding the long transatlantic journey should have allowed him to be in better physical condition. At the very least, he had an advantage over Kylian Mbappé in this regard. However, while Mbappé played the full match for Real, Vinicius did not receive the same favor.
Looking back at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 last summer, when Alonso had just taken charge of Real, the coach had already shown similar decisions with Vinicius. At that time, the move did not draw much attention, but now it is clear that the forward no longer enjoys the same freedom at Real as before.
Indeed, the numbers speak for themselves: in Real’s four La Liga matches this season, Vinicius has been subbed off in three of them (against Osasuna, Mallorca, and most recently Sociedad). In the other match, he was not even in the starting XI, only coming on as a substitute for fellow Brazilian Rodrygo in the second half (when Real thrashed Oviedo 3-0).
Although Vinicius has scored 2 goals in 4 games so far, Alonso’s team selections suggest that the No. 7 has yet to meet his new coach’s expectations. Unfortunately for Vinicius, Alonso cares only about current form, not a player’s reputation—even one who won FIFA’s The Best award last year.
Proof of this came in a recent interview, where Alonso sent a clear message:
“If you work with me, every player must understand that opportunities are shared equally. Competition here is healthy and serves as motivation for everyone to move forward. To me, anyone who plays is someone who truly deserves it.”
From Alonso’s words, it is evident that life at Real has become harsher for Vinicius. If he does not want to lose his place, his only option is to improve his performances.
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