Vinicius Junior’s frustrations at Real Madrid have come to light once again after he was left out of the starting lineup in Los Blancos’ Champions League win over Marseille.
The Brazilian forward, once tipped as a future Ballon d’Or contender, has now begun on the bench in two of Madrid’s opening five fixtures this season.
Vinicius’ reaction to bench role disclosed
During the Marseille clash on Tuesday, Vinicius cut a frustrated figure. He was the first to walk off the pitch at full-time, his body language betraying his disappointment.
The spotlight, instead, fell on Kylian Mbappe, whose two penalties secured the win for Madrid and further intensified the sense that Vinicius is losing ground in the team’s hierarchy.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, a former Liverpool star, admitted he chose not to confront Vini Jr immediately after the game, sensing it wasn’t the right moment.
“Yesterday wasn’t the time to talk to Vinicius,” Alonso said on Friday as quoted by GOAL. “But today he had a better smile and was more positive. I spoke to him and ended up doing some individualised things with him during training. We’ll see tomorrow.”
The coach’s measured approach underlines the delicate balance required in handling one of Madrid’s brightest yet unsettled stars.
For Vinicius, this marks a difficult transition. Just a year ago, he was hailed as one of the most exciting attackers in world football, but his current role has left him struggling to adapt.
His visible frustration against Marseille only highlighted the challenge he now faces.
So far this season, the 24-year-old has made five appearances across all competitions, scoring twice and providing one assist, according to Transfermarkt.
What’s next for Vinicius?
Madrid’s next test comes against Espanyol on Saturday, September 20, at the Santiago Bernabeu. For Vinicius, the fixture represents a chance to reclaim his place in the starting XI and remind Madrid fans — and his coach — of the talent that made him indispensable not so long ago.