‘Mistake’—Carlo Ancelotti Gives Verdict on Vinicius Junior’s Clasico Antics

Vinícius Júnior lost his composure during the El Clásico match against Barcelona on October 26 when he was substituted in the 72nd minute, storming off the pitch and down the tunnel before eventually returning to the bench to witness Real Madrid's 2-1 victory.

Carlo Ancelotti disclosed that he spoke to Vinícius about the outburst, condemning the player's actions and emphasizing that he had made a mistake. Vinícius understood the criticism, apologized both privately and publicly to the club, and Ancelotti confirmed that the issue is now resolved, highlighting Vinícius's importance as a key player for the team.

Xabi Alonso, who made the substitution, later expressed satisfaction with Vinícius's apology. Ancelotti further clarified that his relationship with Vinícius is strictly professional, noting that he is not involved in the player's personal life but solely acts as his coach.

Despite the incident, Vinícius has shown strong performance this season, contributing to 11 goals in the 2025-26 campaign and displaying improved form for Brazil, including a goal and an assist in a 5-0 win over South Korea during the October international break. Ancelotti aims to maintain this productivity ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Brazil seeks to improve on their recent quarterfinal exits.