Things are boiling over at Real Madrid. Vinicius Junior in particular felt the wrath of the crowd at the Bernabeu on Saturday. Right in the middle of it all: Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who tried to smooth things over.
When the fans start waving white handkerchiefs before kickoff, even the last person in Spain knows what’s coming. It’s a gesture that means “Adios, you can all go.” When the team came out of the locker room, there was a “deafening chorus of boos” (Marca) at the Bernabeu.
The fans’ anger was directed primarily at Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian, like Jude Bellingham, had to endure loud boos when his name was read out during the team announcement. The controversial figure in the Royal jersey was considered one of the biggest critics of Xabi Alonso, whom he had snubbed when he was substituted in the Clasico win against Barcelona.
Since then, it has been all downhill for Real. On Saturday, the fans made it clear to the winger that no player is bigger than the club. Criticism from outside or boos from opposing fans seem to roll off the 25-year-old, but clearly not from his own supporters.
A video emerged from the dressing room before kick-off showing Vinicius sitting on a staircase, close to tears. Among others, Kylian Mbappé tries to comfort him.
It’s a complicated situation that Alvaro Arbeloa, an inexperienced coach, has to moderate. The 42-year-old tried to pep up Vinicius after his mediocre performance in the cup defeat in Albacete and also let him play the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 win against Levante. Perhaps he also wanted to spare his protégé a particularly impressive chorus of boos when he was substituted. Arbeloa now hopes that the fans will look beyond the immediate situation. “What Vinicius has achieved since his arrival as a child here has been accomplished by few in the history of Real Madrid,” Arbeloa said of a player who, among other things, has scored in two successful Champions League finals for Real.
What will happen in the summer?
But can the relationship really be repaired? One cannot help but be reminded of Vinicius’ words when he was substituted against Barcelona, which were easily deciphered by the eager lip readers on the Iberian Peninsula. “I’m leaving the team. I’m leaving, I’m better off leaving.”
Vinicius’ contract runs until 2027, and according to reports, Los Blancos do not want to let the 2024 FIFA World Player of the Year leave on a free transfer. A separation in the summer is therefore looming, but Arbeloa is still hoping for a turnaround. “He is fearless, has character and has defended this club with everything he has,” said the coach. The striker will win “many more titles for Real, just as he has already done.”
Even Perez is not spared
But even countless successes cannot protect the club’s patron from the fans’ wrath. The chants of “Florentino dimision” against Florentino Perez were unmistakable, but Arbeloa found the calls for the 78-year-old to resign more than inappropriate. “I know where the boos are coming from. These campaigns are not coming from people who don’t like Florentino, but from people who don’t like Madrid,” said Arbeloa. “They won’t fool me, he is the most important person in this club after Bernabeu – and we Madridistas are aware of what Florentino has done for this club.”
Incidentally, the chants are nothing new for Perez, even though he hasn’t had to hear them for a long time. When Real Madrid lost 4-0 at home to FC Barcelona in November 2015, for example, he heard them too, and the infamous handkerchiefs were also waved at the Bernabeu at that time. Six months later, Real won the Champions League, as they did in the following two seasons.
In the starting lineup against Monaco too?
Perhaps the Champions League can help the Royals reconcile with their fans again this time. Monaco are the visitors next Tuesday. The exciting question is: with or without Vinicius in the starting lineup? The Brazilian had had enough of the Bernabeu after the final whistle and immediately disappeared into the dressing room.
A break would be conceivable, not only because of Saturday’s events. The fact is that Vinicius is hardly scoring anymore. He has yet to score in six Champions League appearances and has been waiting for a goal in La Liga for twelve games. However, Arbeloa’s words suggest a new approach. “I will work to get the best out of Vinicius. I will ask my players to look for him,“ explained the coach. Vinicius is ”one of the most unpredictable players, if not the most unpredictable in the world.”
However, the fact that this does not only apply to his sporting achievements has become an irrefutable problem for Real Madrid.