Real Madrid defeated Barcelona and secured Xabi Alonso’s first Clasico victory as club manager, but there were obstacles, especially with respect to Vinicius Junior.
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior told manager Xabi Alonso after his latest flashpoint at the Bernabéu: “It would be better if I left.” it is claimed. The Brazilian forward’s future has been a topic of discussion ever since Alonso took over from Carlo Ancelotti, and Sunday’s Clasico was no different.
Madrid defeated Barcelona at the Bernabéu with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, winning 2-1. However, Vinicius Junior was sent off about 20 minutes behind the clock, and it was not the first time this season that he had been a victim.
The former Flamengo star has five goals and four assists in La Liga this season, after scoring in double figures in both categories last season. However, he only played the full 90 minutes three times, and only came off the bench in league matches and the Champions League.
This doesn’t seem to have worked out well for the 25-year-old. “Me, it’s always been me. I’m leaving the team. It’s better for me to leave,” he reportedly said.
It remains to be seen whether the South American player will have an impact on the pitch. Real Madrid resume play next weekend against Valencia, before facing Liverpool in the Champions League a few days later.
read more: Wayne Rooney speaks eloquently about Jude Bellingham after win over Marcus Rashfordread more: Real Madrid handed down controversial red card verdict following Arsene Wenger assessment
Alonso was asked about Vinicius after the match, but said he did not want to detract from the team’s performance. “We take a lot of positives away from Vini Junior’s performance, but we don’t want to lose sight of what’s important,” the coach said.
“He contributed a lot. It’s an important and well-deserved win, but given the chances we had and the penalties we had, we could have gone further. It’s important to get back to the feeling of being a competitive team in big games.”
“We know all the coaches have different personalities. We’re going to enjoy that for now. Of course, when the time comes, we’re going to talk about these things in the locker room.”
One man who will definitely not play a role in Madrid this weekend is Dani Carvajal. The right-back is set to undergo surgery on a knee injury, with early reports suggesting he is unlikely to return before the new year.
“The tests carried out on captain Dani Carvajal by Real Madrid’s medical service have revealed that he has a free body in his right knee joint. Carvajal will now undergo an arthroscopy,” the club said in a statement.
Carvajal and fellow full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold have just returned from an injury of their own. The England international returned to the bench for the Clasico and could play next week against his former club Liverpool.
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