Former Real Madrid Player Teaches Vinicius Discipline After “El Clásico”

Lebanon Today

Former Real Madrid player, Álvaro Benito, has advised the team’s star, “Vinicius Junior,” after the incidents that accompanied him in the last El Clásico match against Barcelona, which ended with the Royal team winning 2-1. Benito stressed the importance of the young player learning discipline and controlling his emotions, emphasizing that he represents Real Madrid above all else.

The Spanish newspaper “Marca” reported that Benito, who defended Real Madrid’s colors between 1995 and 2002 before retiring in 2003 due to injury, spoke about “Vinicius'” behavior during his participation in the “El Larguero” program on “Cadena Ser” radio, saying: “The ‘Vinicius’ issue is complex because he has difficulty controlling his emotions.”

The sports analyst added: “What happened in El Clásico clearly reflects this problem, as he felt frustrated by the changes that occurred despite his good performance. Frustration is a natural feeling, but the most important thing is how to deal with it.”

Benito explained: “I think he was overwhelmed by frustration. I am confident that ‘Vinicius’ has received valuable advice, as everyone is keen to support him. Similarly, ‘Lamine Yamal’ will learn after his recent mistake that silence and caution are best sometimes. Ultimately, we all win and lose, and life teaches us that crossing boundaries comes at a price.”

Benito recalled his childhood memories in the Real Madrid academy to give “Vinicius” a lesson in discipline and responsibility, saying: “Controlling emotions is the foundation, and that’s what I learned from a young age. When I joined Real Madrid at the age of twelve, my first coach, Antonio Quiroga, told me: You don’t just represent yourself, you represent Real Madrid. And so I realized that players represent a entity larger than themselves.”

Benito commented on the relationship between “Vinicius” and his coach “Xabi Alonso,” saying: “I don’t think the Brazilian player is challenging his coach. I see him as an intelligent and cultured person, and he has enough experience to deal with the situation.”

Benito concluded his statement by saying: “If it happens again, the decision will not be in ‘Alonso’s’ hands alone, but the club must intervene. It is a matter of respect for the institution, colleagues, and the technical staff. I don’t see the incident as catastrophic, but it should not be repeated, although it is sometimes difficult to control.”

Repeated anger

The Brazilian star “Vinicius Junior” publicly showed his anger towards his coach “Xabi Alonso” after being substituted in the 70th minute of the El Clásico match, as he did not hide his displeasure with the decision and protested it with gestures and words, before leaving the field directly to the dressing rooms without sitting on the bench, to which he returned after minutes.

The moments of tension came in the final minutes of El Clásico when “Alonso” decided to withdraw “Vinicius” and bring in “Rodrygo” instead, a move that surprised the player and aroused his great anger, in a scene that is expected to cause a lot of controversy.

Reports indicated that as soon as “Vinicius” saw his number on the fourth referee’s board, signs of shock and disbelief appeared on his face, and he uttered clear protest phrases as he left the field angrily, without exchanging greetings with his coach.

“Alonso” chose to completely ignore the situation, focusing his gaze on the field, while a number of “Vinicius'” colleagues intervened to calm him down. The Brazilian player did not sit on the bench at first and left directly to the dressing rooms, before returning later after a few minutes with a sullen face and angry features.

While leaving, “Vinicius” lost his temper and shouted angrily, repeating an obscene phrase that carried a direct insult to “Alonso” and reflected his anger and frustration.

This was not the first time that “Vinicius” showed his displeasure with his coach’s decisions regarding substitutions, as “Alonso” used to substitute him at early times more than once, which made him feel targeted.

“Sport” clarified that “Vinicius” appeared repeating in surprise: “Me? Me?” As if he couldn’t believe he would leave again, at a time when signs of tension began to appear inside the dressing room due to the difference in “Alonso’s” treatment of him compared to his colleague “Kylian Mbappé,” who is rarely substituted.

In additional footage broadcast by “DAZN,” “Vinicius” appeared shouting: “It’s always me! I’m leaving the team, it’s better for me to leave,” while scenes were captured of “Alonso” responding to him with a serious face, saying: “Come on Vini, damn it!” In a clear indication of his anger at the player’s behavior.

Natural tension

The press conference was not without questions raised about the anger of “Vinicius Junior” after his substitution, but “Alonso” dealt with the matter calmly: “I came out of the match with many positives, including Vini’s performance. We will definitely talk about it, but I don’t want to lose focus on the important points. There are players who have different personalities, and we will clarify things within the group.”

Despite repeated questions about the Brazilian star, “Alonso” preferred not to elaborate on the controversy, stressing that tension is a natural part of El Clásico matches: “This is normal, a lot happens in every El Clásico and it will continue, tension is always present, as long as things remain within the framework of healthy competition, there is nothing to worry about.”