'It's better if I leave' - Vinicius Jr's Real Madrid future called into question after El Clasico drama

Insight from Spain 

Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of the LaLiga table to five points on Sunday, when Xabi Alonso’s side dispatched Barcelona with a 2-1 victory in the first “El Clasico” of the new season. Despite Fermín López’s goal in the 38th minute cancelling out an opener from Kylian Mbappé in the 22nd minute, Jude Bellingham then put his side back in front with a right-footed shot just before half time. However, the mood around Madrid has been anything but celebratory since the match.

While there’s always controversy when Barca and Madrid lock horns, it typically comes from earnest rivalries between the two clubs. There certainly was plenty of that on the pitch, but what caught the eye of most viewers during the game was the scorn Vinicius Jr aimed at his own club when Alonso opted to bring the Brazilian star off on the 72nd minute. At first the 25-year-old forward refused to believe he had been chosen to come off for compatriot Rodrygo, before cameras caught him shouting “I’m leaving the team, it’s better if I leave, I’m leaving” as he stormed off the pitch. Which led to Alonso taking notable exception to the player’s reaction, stating: “Come on Vini, damn it.”

Reports in Spain have since suggested that Madrid won’t penalise Vinicius Jr for his public spat on the pitch, but it is just the latest in a growing list of outbursts from the player on and off the pitch. And as such, the apparent tension between the player and his club have led to constant speculation over his future in the Spanish capital. To find out more about what’s going on in LaLiga, we spoke to Transfermarkt’s Content Manager in Spain Iván Fuente. Here’s what he had to say.

“He probably thought that the match was at a point where he could exploit his strengths,” said Fuente, when asked about Vinicius Jr’s reaction to being subbed off on Sunday. “But his reaction is yet another example of his character, which is somewhat selfish and, let's face it, disrespectful to his teammates and his manager. He still thinks he is the main star of Real Madrid, when his role in the team is now second to Mbappé as far as everyone else is concerned.” And it’s that tension between Vinicius Jr and Madrid’s new No.9 which seems to be causing problems.

A quick glance at Vinicius Jr’s’ season to date would suggest that everything is fine. The Brazilian international has started all of Madrid’s 10 league games and two of the club’s three Champions League games. In that period, he’s bagged an impressive five goals and four assists, which certainly suggests that Vinicius Jr’s performances on the pitch haven’t dropped off. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story.

While Vinicius Jr has started most of Madrid’s games this season, he’s only finished three of them and is often subbed off, like we saw on Sunday. This, perhaps, gives an impression that the Brazilian is more expendable than the likes of Mbappé and is maybe where the Brazilian’s reported problems with Alonso arise. “The change for Vinicius Jr did not come with the arrival of Alonso, but with that of Mbappé,” noted Fuente, when asked how the Brazilian winger’s role at the club “The spotlight is on the Frenchman and Vinicius Jr is unable to shine. Furthermore, his words after not winning the Ballon d'Or [posted above] are not coming true and his performance have perhaps dropped off.”

So does this all lead to Vinicius Jr leaving Madrid in the near future? While such a prospect may be hard to believe due to his impressive goals and assists, as well as the impressive silverware he’s amassed in recent years, it isn’t entirely impossible. After all, the Brazilian talent’s contract expires in 2027. And that means that Madrid may be forced to either cave in to the player’s demands or look to move him on for a top fee next summer. “He will surely want to renew his contract with top star status,” said Fuente, when asked about the player’s future in Madrid. “If that doesn't happen, and he has offers from a top club where he is guaranteed to be the main leader, he will surely look to leave. There have been rumours in the past that Madrid would not be opposed to a sale. If the player does not make a move to renew his contract, he will surely leave in the summer. But, given the player's character, he will surely ask for a deal similar to Mbappé's, and this is something that I do not think Madrid is willing to accept.”