Rivaldo Defends Vinicius, Suggests Alonso’s Ego May Be Behind Substitutions
Former Barcelona forward Rivaldo has come to the defence of Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, suggesting manager Xabi Alonso’s ego may have influenced his decision to repeatedly substitute the Brazilian winger — including in last weekend’s ‘Clasico’.
Vinicius sparked controversy after reacting angrily to being replaced during Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Barcelona, later apologising publicly. But Rivaldo, while admitting his compatriot’s behaviour “was not correct,” argued that the situation stems from deeper issues between the player and the coach.
“Sometimes a manager, because he was a great player and champion, may not like to see another footballer be the big star,” Rivaldo told Betfair. “I don’t agree with what Vinicius did, but he should be given some leeway. It’s not just about this match, but a context of repeated substitutions and situations.”
The 2002 World Cup winner went further, questioning Alonso’s handling of the team’s key player. “Vinicius Junior is still the best player in the world according to FIFA,” he said. “A player like him, who is so valuable to Real Madrid, cannot be substituted seven matches in a row. Especially not in a Clasico when the team was only one goal ahead — he could have sealed the victory.”
Rivaldo hinted that Alonso might be using Vinicius to assert his authority within the squad. “Sometimes it happens that the coach, to win over the group, picks on the most outstanding player,” he said. “It’s a way of showing, ‘If I can do it with Vinicius, I can do it with anyone.’”
He also stressed that world-class players like Vinicius and Kylian Mbappé should always be on the pitch. “There are managers who prefer the group to shine more than an individual player, but footballers like Vinicius and Mbappé decide matches. They must always play because they can change games for both the club and the coach.”
Despite his criticism of Alonso, Rivaldo called on Vinicius to make peace with his manager. “He said some bad things, and that looks bad. But his anger can be understood,” Rivaldo said. “Ideally, they should make peace because they both work toward the same goal — winning titles. Vinicius is a player with courage and personality, and I’m sure everything will be sorted out.”
The remarks have added a new twist to the ongoing debate over Vinicius’s temperament and Alonso’s leadership at Real Madrid, as the Spanish champions prepare for another crucial run of fixtures.