Vinicius Junior Drops ‘I’m Leaving’ Hint as Real Madrid Future Takes Shock Turn
After failing to conceal his annoyance at being replaced during El Clasico, Vinicius Junior muttered, “I’m leaving the team.”
According to sources on Monday, he is “seriously considering” leaving because manager Xabi Alonso has not shown him the “respect” he deserves.
Where could he go, though? There is just one choice. Since joining Madrid in 2018, Vinicius has played a key part in many of the team’s victories, helping them win 14 trophies, including three La Liga crowns and two Champions Leagues.
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However, as he bounded off the pitch on Sunday, the 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up’s frustrations—which had been simmering beneath the surface for weeks at the Bernabeu—came to the surface.
Vinicius was brought back into Alonso’s starting lineup after starting on the bench for Madrid’s previous league match against Getafe.
Goals from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe gave Madrid a 2-1 victory over their fierce rivals, but Alonso pulled him out in the 72nd minute and made it clear what he thought of his manager’s choice.
“Me? Me? gentleman, gentleman! Me? When his No. 7 appeared on the fourth official’s board, Vinicius could be heard yelling at Alonso.
The 25-year-old reportedly mumbled, “Always me!” before heading straight down the tunnel before playing the entire 90 minutes in just three of Madrid’s 12 games across all competitions this season. I’m leaving the team! I’d better go, I’m leaving!
Vinicius, who feels that Alonso “doesn’t like him” and that the Spaniard “doesn’t respect” his “status,” is also “considering leaving,” according to AS, with the growing distance between the two being a “massive problem” for the team.
After the game, Alonso tried to diffuse the tension by stating: “I’m taking away a lot of positive things from Vini’s game and I don’t want to lose focus on what’s important.”
“He made a significant impact. It’s a significant and well-earned triumph. It’s critical to regain the sense of competition in significant games. Every coach is aware that people have varying personalities.
“We’ll enjoy it now, and when the time comes, we’ll discuss these things in the changing room, of course.”
According to the report, the Madrid management is willing to support any choice Alonso makes regarding Vinicius’ future because they are not impressed with the winger’s response to being substituted.
And as it was hinted last month that Vinicius might look to leave in January after being benched for Madrid’s Champions League opener, we can only presume that his determination to find other opportunities has become stronger with this most recent apparent rejection.
For Vinicius and his team, the big question now isn’t about whether he’s good enough, it’s about who could actually afford him.
Any potential buyer would need to cough up close to £150 million for the transfer and be ready to hand him a staggering £350,000 a week.
On top of that, whoever signs him must be willing to make him the face of the club, because it’s no secret Vinicius doesn’t take kindly to playing second fiddle.
Realistically, that narrows down his options a lot maybe even to just one destination, and that may be Saudi Arabia.
There was a time when PSG would’ve been the obvious escape route for stars like him, the place where the game’s biggest egos found a new stage.
But that’s changed. Paris are no longer spending on unnecessary signings, they’re trying to build something serious now.
Liverpool made numerous Galactico additions in the summer, but to their expense so far this season, and we can’t imagine Arne Slot accepting such a guy into his dressing room.
If anyone could get a grasp on Vinicius, it might just be Pep Guardiola, but Manchester City haven’t generally chased players of such repute, other than Erling Haaland, who joined for the relatively modest rates they’re used to paying for their signings.
Arsenal may still be pursuing a left-wing improvement, but much as we would appreciate his duel with Arteta, theirs is a boat that doesn’t need upsetting.
Manchester United aren’t in a position to recruit a player of Vinicius’ level even if they wanted to, and we can’t think they do at a period where Ruben Amorim looks finally to have his group pulling together as one.
There’s very little likelihood of Chelsea spending that much for a player who is on the brink of being too old for them anyhow at 25, and even less chance of Vinicius joining a club where the odds of the most big championships look dim in the short-term.
