El Clásico Fallout Continues

The controversy surrounding El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona refuses to fade. Although Vinícius Junior has publicly apologized for his reaction after being substituted by Xabi Alonso, not everyone has accepted his words.

A former Atlético de Madrid player, known for his strong personality on and off the field, launched a harsh attack on the Brazilian, describing his behavior as “self-centered and unacceptable.”

During his appearance on El Larguero, the former Atlético captain Gabi Fernández also analyzed Xabi Alonso’s situation as Real Madrid’s head coach.

“Real Madrid isn’t Leverkusen. He’s facing situations he didn’t expect, but he’s handling them well,”
he said, showing his support for the Basque manager.

Harsh Words for Vinícius

The former player didn’t mince words when referring to the Real Madrid winger’s behavior:

“Vinícius tests everyone around him every single day. It was only a matter of time. The one who needs to take action is the coach. No player has ever done something like that to me — it’s what I hate most in football: gestures, tantrums, and drama in public.”

Now a coach himself, the ex-captain insisted that these situations should be handled privately and lamented that a player of Vinícius’s caliber falls into such attitudes.

An Apology That Didn’t Convince Everyone

The harshest comment came when he addressed Vinícius’s public statement on social media, where the Brazilian apologized to the club, his teammates, and the fans — but not directly to Xabi Alonso.

“That statement — and the fact that the only person he didn’t apologize to was the coach — is unacceptable. It’s a self-centered act, the reality of modern football. I can’t accept that,”
said the Madrid-born former player.

His remarks reopen the debate around Vinícius Junior’s temperament, which, despite his apology, continues to make him a polarizing figure — admired for his talent, but questioned for his attitude.