After the match against Leganés in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Wednesday night, Vinicius Junior has come under scrutiny for his altercation with Luka Modric. According to columnist Raul Varela in Marca, the Brazilian winger has officially become a major problem for Real Madrid.
The weeks go by, but things are not improving for Vinicius Junior. An important player for Real Madrid, the Brazilian winger has been underwhelming since the end of 2024, particularly in December. Known for his explosive temperament, which has earned him harsh criticism, the 24-year-old struggles to control himself or take things in stride. In the absence of Kylian Mbappé on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Leganés, the Brazilian international stood out for his irritating behaviour towards the referee and, most notably, towards his captain, Luka Modric.
Considered one of the team’s leaders, Vinicius Junior clashed awkwardly with his captain. Indeed, as thoroughly explained (see here), FIFA’s 2024 Best Player responded to Modric, who was criticising him for not tracking back defensively like the rest of the team when they were struggling. Later disapproved of by Carlo Ancelotti, Vini became the subject of a scathing piece by Raul Varela in Marca.
“Vinicius is different”
At the final whistle of the match, which the Madrid side won with difficulty, the columnist heavily criticised the Brazilian player, labelling him a significant problem for Real Madrid. “I don’t know if it’s the Ballon d’Or he didn’t win, the FIFA Best award he did win, his cohabitation with Mbappé at all levels, or the call from Saudi Arabia that he is reluctant to answer for himself but not for those around him,” Varela suggested, adding that “Vinicius is different. Even his playing level has sparked a debate that was previously non-existent within the club. Carletto has not denied it.”
In recent days, Vinicius Junior has displayed significant weaknesses in his game. While he still produces flashes of brilliance or skilful dribbles, the Brazilian forward no longer has the same impact on the game as he did last year. Today, Rodrygo Goes and Kylian Mbappé are clearly superior to the 24-year-old, who appears lost in his emotional struggles. “Yesterday’s clash involving Modric and also Valverde, whose gestures made it visibly exaggerated, goes beyond a mere flare-up during a match caused by a tactical readjustment. It reflects the ongoing struggle between defensive suffering and a lack of solidarity,” continued the Marca journalist.
Time for change
Given the current situation, it is clear that Junior is becoming a problem for his coach, who is overwhelmed by so much man-management, and even for his teammates, who point fingers at him for mistakes left uncorrected. At this stage of the season, Real Madrid could well be holding their heads in their hands given the circumstances. In any case, if things eventually settle and calmness returns to the team despite the numerous defensive injuries disrupting the plans, Carlo Ancelotti will deserve immense credit, as he remains the only one capable of solving this problem.
Vinicius Junior, who aspires to become one of the best players of the decade, must simply get back on track. With Kylian Mbappé clearly winning over both Madridistas and neutrals thanks to his composed demeanour on the pitch, the Brazilian must step up his game. If nothing changes, Florentino Pérez may not be opposed to selling the player, knowing he has the opportunity to cash in millions of euros in Saudi Arabia. Is that the solution? We shall see.
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