Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior has publicly apologised to Real Madrid following his emotional outburst after being substituted during their tense 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the weekend’s El Clásico.
The 25-year-old, who Rodrygo replaced in the 72nd minute, reacted angrily to the decision, visibly expressing frustration toward coach Xabi Alonso before marching down the tunnel.
Although Vinícius did not mention Alonso directly in his statement, he extended a heartfelt apology to everyone at the club.
He wrote:
“Today I want to apologise to all Madrid fans for my reaction to being substituted in the Clasico. Just as I have already done in person during today’s training, I also want to apologise again to my teammates, club, and president.”
“Sometimes passion gets the better of me by always wanting to win and help my team. My competitive nature is born from the love I feel for this club and for everything it represents. I promise to continue fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since day one.”
Despite his brief exit, Vinícius later returned to the sidelines to watch the rest of the match, which saw Real Madrid extend their lead at the top of La Liga.
During the heated encounter, the Brazilian forward also clashed with Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, adding to the intensity of the fixture.
Following the match, Alonso told reporters that Vinícius’s reaction would be handled internally, assuring fans that the issue would not disrupt team harmony.
