Real Madrid Coach Ancelotti ‘Gives Up’ On Vinicius Jr., Who Has Tired Locker Room Reports SPORT

by · Forbes
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has "given up" on wayward winger Vinicius Jr., who the locker ... [+] room has also grown tired of according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.Getty Images

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has "given up" on wayward winger Vinicius Jr., who the locker room has also grown tired of according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.

Through just seven games in the 2024/2025 La Liga season thus far, the Ballon d'Or hopeful is already the most cautioned player who has picked up three yellow cards for protests and backchat to the referee.

Such dissent has spread through the rest of the team, with usually squeaky-clean captain Luka Modric given a warning on Tuesday night that was one of three during an eventual 3-2 win over Alaves at the Bernabeu.

There have been nine such yellow cards thus far this season. And while Vinicius was shown his in the 29th minute for protesting to the referee, he was lucky not to be shown a second as he was brought off in the 90th minute.

'Vini' started mouthing at the sideline officials as he saw that six minutes of stoppage time would be added in a match. Alaves went 3-0 down ahead of clawing the scoreline back to its final 3-2 verdict, and looked capable of at least stealing a point with two goals out of nowhere towards the death.

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Being red carded would have seen Vinicius miss a crucial Madrid derby against crosstown rivals Atletico at the weekend, which Kylian Mbappe will already sit out thanks to a muscle injury.

SPORT writes that at Real Madrid they are "fed up with the Brazilian's attitude", with Ancelotti, who has defended him the most and taken a "paternal role" with the player, having spoken to him personally about the matter.

Ultimately, however, the Italian has reportedly "given up" on the 24-year-old, who "does not pay attention to the advice or orders of his superiors" and "continues to star in incidents game after game with protests that endanger his stay on the field", as happened against Alaves.

At the same time he doesn't listen to the coach's requests, Vinicius has also made his teammates tired of having to mediate on the pitch and off it for him.

Though the club wants Vinicius to renew his contract, it could eventually be pushed to accept what would be a world record transfer bid for him from Saudi Arabia that surpasses the $247 million (€222 million) Paris Saint-Germain paid for Neymar in 2017 according to popular Spanish football program El Chiringuito, which cited anonymous sources.