Former Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has voiced his opinion on the recent controversy surrounding Vinicius Jr., whose behaviour during the El Clasico against Barcelona has drawn heavy criticism both inside and outside Spain.
The Br azilian forward’s reaction after being substituted by Xabi Alonso in the second half has not gone down well with fans, pundits, or former players, many of whom believe he crossed the line by displaying open frustration towards his coach in front of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd.
The forward’s visible anger and dismissive gestures upon leaving the pitch were seen as a public show of disrespect towards Alonso.
While Real Madrid’s management continues to publicly support their manager, discontent over the player’s attitude is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Within the club, it is believed that such actions do little to help the unity and discipline that Alonso is trying to instil in the squad.
Now, the criticism has come from former Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, who spent five seasons with Los Blancos between 2010 and 2015, winning the Champions League, La Liga, and Copa del Rey during his time at the club.
The German made it clear that he disapproved of Vinicius’ behaviour.
He expressed his thoughts in a calm but firm manner, using a relatable analogy to underline the importance of teamwork and respect.
"You can get angry with the coach. That’s okay. But you always have to remember that you’re part of a team."
"Imagine for a moment that we’re playing a paddle tennis match, and I come on for you and get angry in such a brutal way,"
"I’ll immediately give you a bad feeling. Rodrygo came on. You can get angry with the coach, but not to this extent or with this body language," said Khedira.
The former midfielder’s comments echo what many within Real Madrid’s inner circle believe that Vinicius must learn to manage his emotions better if he wants to be considered one of the club’s true leaders.