Vinícius key for Real Madrid: Juventus and Clásico in sight

Xabi Alonso Praises Vinícius Júnior: “Fundamental” and “Decisive” for Real Madrid

Coach Xabi Alonso has highlighted the importance of Vinícius Júnior for Real Madrid, calling him a “fundamental” and “decisive” player ahead of this week’s crucial matches against Juventus in the Champions League and the clásico against Barcelona. Alonso surprised by leaving Vinícius out of the starting eleven in the recent LaLiga match against Getafe, where the Brazilian came on as a substitute and changed the course of the match, causing two red cards for the Getafe players. This was the third time this season that Alonso benched Vinícius, while negotiations about the renewal of his contract are ongoing.

• What’s happening with Vini Jr.

“He’s a very good player,” Alonso declared at a press conference on Tuesday, before the match against Juventus. “He is fundamental to this team and to this squad. He is this season and has been for a long time.”

It’s decisive, I like to see him smile. We need him, focused on the game, on what he does well. The day-to-day is good and he’s responding well in the matches.

Xabi Alonso

Vinícius has been criticized by Getafe coach José Bordalás, and accused of disrespecting his rivals, but has received the support of his teammate Thibaut Courtois.

It’s not easy. At 18, many people laughed at Vinícius. He did nothing wrong in Getafe, and everyone is against him. They looked for him from the start, and destabilized him.

Thibaut Courtois

Courtois added that Vinícius has improved and that it is positive that he learns to live with conflict and to destabilize rivals.

Vinícius, who has scored five goals and provided four assists in LaLiga this season, has had several confrontations with rival players and has been the victim of racist insults from some fans. Alonso also commented on the possible availability of Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal for Sunday’s clásico, and praised Arda Güler, describing him as “a mix of Mesut Ozil and Guti”. Alonso highlighted Guti’s quality for playing in the build-up and in the final pass, and expressed his satisfaction with Güler’s performance, maturity, and role in the team.