Clasico Clash: Vinícius Jr. Faces Emotional Test, Benito Casts Light on Real Madrid’s Discipline

Clasico Fallout: Benito’s Perspective and Vinícius’ Moment

Álvaro Benito, a former Real Madrid winger who wore the badge from 1995 to 2002 before retiring in 2003 due to injury, sent a message to star Vinícius Júnior after his controversial conduct in the latest Clasico against Barcelona, which Real Madrid won 2-1. He stressed that the young forward must learn discipline and control his emotions because he represents Real Madrid above all else.

According to Marca, Benito spoke about Vinílius’ behavior during the El Larguero program on Cadena SER, saying: “Vinícius’ case is hard to resolve because he carries an inner problem with emotional control.”

“What happened in the Clasico is a clear example of a lack of emotional control. He felt frustrated by the changes even though he was delivering a good game. We all feel frustration at times, but the key is how we handle those moments.”

Benito continued: “I think the frustration overwhelmed him. I am sure Vinícius received good advice; everyone around him wants to help. Just as it will happen with Lamine Yamal after his last mistake, he will learn that silence and caution can be best sometimes. In the end, we all win and lose; life teaches that the price is paid if you cross the line. It’s simply the rule of life.”

Recalling his academy days, he offered Vinícius a lesson in discipline and responsibility: “What you must do is control the emotions; I learned that from an early age. When I joined Real Madrid at twelve, my first coach Antonio Queiroga told me: you don’t just represent yourself, you represent Real Madrid. That helped me understand that players represent something bigger than themselves.”

On the relationship between Vinícius and coach Xabi Alonso, Benito said: “I don’t think Vinícius challenges his coach. I see him as intelligent, cultured, elegant, and with enough experience to handle the situation.”

He concluded: “If this happens again, the decision won’t be in Alonso’s hands alone; the club must intervene. It’s a matter of respect for the institution, teammates, and the staff. I don’t see the incident as catastrophic, but it’s something that should not recur, despite how hard it is to keep emotions in check sometimes.”

Explosive Reappearance

The Brazilian star publicly voiced his anger at Alonso after being substituted in the 70th minute; he showed displeasure with gestures and words, then left the pitch for the locker room, not sitting on the substitutes’ bench as he briefly returned minutes later.

Reports say the tension peaked in the final minutes when Alonso pulled Vinícius and brought on Rodrygo; the move surprised the winger and triggered a strong reaction that will likely fuel debate in the weeks ahead.

Insiders noted that as soon as Vinícius saw his number on the fourth official’s board, he appeared stunned and vocal, leaving the field angrily without exchanging a greeting with the coach.

Alonso ignored the moment, focusing on the game, while teammates tried to calm Vinícius. The Brazilian initially did not sit on the bench and only later returned with a stern face.

In post-match clips, Vinícius can be heard shouting a strong insult directed at Alonso as he left the field, a clear sign of his frustration and disappointment.

It wasn’t the first time Vinícius has shown annoyance at substitutions; Alonso has used him earlier in matches, which may have fed the sense of being targeted, particularly when compared with Mbappé’s treatment.

Marca noted Vinícius’ surprised reaction, muttering, “Me? Me?” as he left; further footage from DAZN showed him shouting “It’s always me! I’ll leave the team,” while Alonso responded with a firm “Come on, Vin!”

Natural Tension in Clasico

During the press conference, Alonso addressed questions about Vinícius’s anger with calmness. He highlighted the positives of Vinícius’s performance and signaled that the discussion would continue within the group, noting that players have different personalities and that internal clarity is essential.

Alonso argued that such tension is natural in a Clasico: as long as it stays within healthy competition, there is nothing to worry about.

Punchline 1: If emotions counted as goals, Vinícius would be on pace for a hat-trick in the dressing room.

Punchline 2: In Real Madrid’s academy they teach you to represent the club; apparently Vinícius took that literally and joined the “locker-room leadership” program a bit early.