Why Toni Kroos Jumped to Vinicius Junior’s Defense in a Fiery Clasico
28 October 2025
Kroos’s defense of Vinicius and Madrid’s Clasico win
Toni Kroos, Real Madrid’s midfield maestro, defended his former teammate Vinicius Junior after the Brazilian’s visible frustration when he was substituted in the Clasico against Barcelona, saying the moment sprang from natural and amplified emotions in such a match.
Speaking from Germany, as reported by AS, Kroos explained that he understands Vinicius’s anger even if he disagrees with leaving the locker room immediately after the substitution, noting that moments like these are hard to judge from afar.
Kroos added, “When you deliver an exceptional performance, especially in a match like this, it’s natural not to be happy when you are substituted. I wouldn’t have liked to be taken off either. But honestly, I did not leave the locker room right away.”
From outside it’s easy to judge, but remember that someone on the pitch with 80,000 fans and a 2-1 scoreline just wants to keep playing. It’s impossible for outsiders to fully grasp those emotions.
The German star also stressed that what happened will not affect the relationship between Vinicius and coach Xabi Alonso, who, being a former player, will understand the moment well.
Kroos admitted that perhaps Vinicius could have restrained his reaction a bit more, but the images show the expression wasn’t ideal. Still, the moment was intensely emotional and exceptional, and such moments happen; coaches who once played often react differently.
He then praised Real Madrid’s victory, saying he was very happy with the win; the team exploited Barcelona’s approach well, and the first half could have produced a larger margin. Real Madrid played with intelligence, maximizing the strengths of its players.
Vinicius’s outburst and the locker room exit
The moment of tension came when Vinicius Junior publicly expressed his anger at Alonso after being substituted in the 70th minute, gesturing and voicing his discontent before leaving straight to the locker room rather than returning to the bench.
The late drama intensified as Alonso brought Rodrygo on, a move that surprised Vinicius and is sure to fuel debate in the coming weeks.
Reports noted Vinicius’s repeated “Me? Me?” on the sidelines, and DAZN footage captured him shouting “Always me! I’ll leave the team” while Alonso countered with a firm “Come on, Vin!”
Alonso addressed the incident calmly in the post-match press conference, saying the match yielded many positives for Vinicius and the group; tensions are natural in Clasico, and as long as they stay within healthy competition there is no cause for concern.
He also indicated that the episode would not derail the bond between Vinicius and the coach, underscoring that the dynamics in a big clash can be intense but manageable.
The report noted that Vinicius has previously shown frustration with substitutions, contrasting with teammates like Mbappé who are rarely taken off.
In short, the Clasico was dramatic and emotional, but Real Madrid’s victory remains deserved as they capitalized on Barcelona’s approach with smart, patient play.
Punchlines aside, if emotion were a card, Vinicius would have earned a red in real time; and if Clasicos were stand-up sets, Alonso just provided the calm encore that every crowd secretly hopes for.
