A toxic atmosphere: the Bernabéu turns on Vinicius

Vinicius Junior’s name is starting to echo uncomfortably around the Santiago Bernabéu. Boos, frustrated gestures, and a widespread feeling that the Brazilian is going through a critical moment. It’s been 12 matches without scoring ,an unthinkable figure for a player expected to lead Real Madrid’s attack.

The defeat against City was the latest trigger: while Rodrygo finally broke his endless drought, Vinicius received some of the harshest whistles of the night. It wasn’t just a complaint about his lack of goals, but also about poor decisions in key moments, clear signs of a footballer disconnected from his best version.

The most alarming part? He hasn’t scored in over two months, since that brace against Villarreal on October 4. Since then, finding the net has become forbidden territory: posts, disallowed goals, a missed penalty, and just a couple of assists to compensate for a production far below expectations.

A historic drought that weighs on the team

The numbers are blunt: 941 minutes without celebrating a goal. A figure not seen from Vinicius since the 2020–21 season. And the most painful part for Madrid is that he hasn’t stopped trying. He’s taken more shots than anyone except Kylian Mbappé, with 41 attempts during this stretch, but with almost zero effectiveness.

Advanced metrics aren’t forgiving either: according to Opta’s expected goals, he should have scored between 4 and 5 goals since his last one. But reality says otherwise: the ball simply won’t go in. And Madrid feels it. When Mbappé is out, the team lacks a reliable offensive leader, and Vinicius hasn’t been able to take that role.

Fans have pointed not only to his lack of finishing, but also to his inconsistency. Three bad decisions against City were enough for part of the stadium to erupt in whistles. Patience is wearing thin.

Xabi Alonso and Vinicius: a relationship under tension

Xabi Alonso’s arrival has reshuffled hierarchies. The coach has given absolute authority to Mbappé, while Vinicius has experienced something entirely new: the bench. Since the second match of the season, the Spaniard’s rotations have made it clear that his role is no longer untouchable.

Tension rose sharply during El Clásico, when Vinicius reacted with visible annoyance after being subbed off. That moment marked a turning point, raising doubts about his relationship with the coach and his emotional stability within the team.

Although he regained his starting spot in some stretches, his inconsistency after Brazil’s international breaks and his lack of sharpness have pushed him into a competitive limbo affecting both his performance and his confidence.

An immediate future filled with doubts

The Brazilian is going through one of the darkest stretches of his eight seasons at the club. It’s not just the lack of goals, it’s the feeling that his impact has faded. Between the team’s poor results, only two wins in their last eight matches, and his personal slump, the situation has become troubling.

Vinicius remains the team’s second-highest scorer, but that number no longer hides the truth: his productivity has plummeted, and Real Madrid needs an urgent reaction.
The question is whether it will come in time… or if this is the beginning of something bigger.