The collapse of Real Madrid in the last months of 2025 fits between two substitutions of Vinicius at the Bernabéu. On October 26, he left the classic in the 71st minute, with a 2-1 lead and a thunderous collection of complaints towards Xabi Alonso, who kept his eyes away from the rudeness. Less than two months later, on December 20, the Brazilian left the game against Sevilla in the 82nd minute, 1-0 and under a thunderous whistle while his coach applauded him from the sidelines, where he was waiting for him with a hug. In addition to the team’s collapse, these two scenes also mark the falling out of love of the stands with the Brazilian, to whom they had devoted themselves even in their uncertain beginnings, the time of Zidane’s jokes and distrust. The stadium always loved him. Until the last night he was there.
Come back this afternoon. Madrid receives Sevilla at the Bernabéu (4:15 p.m., Dazn), where the Brazilian left furious in December. After the long whistle, he changed his profile photo on Instagram: he removed the one he had with the Madrid shirt and replaced it with one with the Brazil one. Vinicius personally manages his account, according to sources close to him. After October’s rudeness to “We have no doubt that we will return. We will win again.”
Vinicius spent his vacation days between Dubai and Brazil, with his girlfriend, Virginia Fonseca, and surrounded by friends. The rest after the frustrating 2025, which his people say he needed, led him to appeasement. He did not recover his old profile photo on Instagram, but the day after the open training, on New Year’s Eve, he published a photograph on that account holding the Madrid shirt: “May it be an incredible year. 2026. Hala Madrid always. I love you,” he wrote. And he accompanied it with a white heart.
Real and Vinicius enter a decisive period this afternoon, starting with the most immediate for the Brazilian, his reunion with the Bernabéu after the clash. “I see Vini looking good, happy and smiling,” said Xabi yesterday, who believes that reconciliation begins with performance on the field. “Tomorrow we are the ones who have to give to receive. We want to transmit good energy, spread desire and the rhythm we need to compete. If that flows in both directions, we will enjoy.”
The match against Betis, who have not yet lost away from home this season, opens a very demanding small series that could end up deciding the future of Xabi, of whom part of the club’s board is suspicious. Next Thursday, Madrid will play the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup in Jeddah against Atlético, who defeated them 5-2 in the first major defeat in September, at the Metropolitano. If he wins, Barça or Athletic await him in Sunday’s final. Mbappé’s injury, ruled out today and with minimal options to play in Jeddah, will put the focus even more on Vinicius, who has not scored since October 4. The Brazilian begins his comeback today with the Bernabéu in a World Cup year, with a Brazil half done and with the renewal of his contract, which expires in June 2027, still pending.
