Vinícius Júnior once again found himself at the center of controversy during the Madrid derby on Thursday (08/01), as Real Madrid eliminated Atlético Madrid and booked their place in the Spanish Super Cup final. The Brazilian forward clashed with Atlético coach Diego Simeone, and the tension continued even after the final whistle.
The incident occurred when Vini Jr. was being substituted and exchanged words with Simeone on the sidelines. The situation quickly escalated, drawing reactions from both benches. Xabi Alonso, who was present on the Madrid staff, confronted Simeone in defense of Real Madrid’s number 7, further fueling the heated atmosphere of the clásico.
Despite the controversy, Real Madrid emerged victorious with a 2–1 win, extending their dominance over their city rivals and securing a place in the final, where they will face Barcelona.
Vinícius Jr. Provokes Simeone on Social Media
Following the victory, Vinícius Jr. took to Instagram to provoke the Atlético coach. In a post showing Simeone reacting toward him during the match, the Brazilian left a pointed comment:
“You lost another knockout round,” followed by a crying emoji.
The message was a clear reference to Atlético Madrid’s long-standing struggles against Real Madrid in decisive matches. Over the years, the Merengues have repeatedly eliminated their rivals in knockout competitions, including two Champions League finals in the past decade.
Historically, Real Madrid have also dominated the rivalry, having defeated Atlético Madrid 119 times since the first meeting between the clubs.
Vinícius Jr.’s Situation at Real Madrid
Despite his importance on the pitch, Vinícius Júnior’s future at Real Madrid remains uncertain. The Brazilian has yet to agree on a contract renewal, and if negotiations do not progress, a potential sale in the June transfer window is not completely ruled out.
For now, Vinícius remains focused on his performances. In the 2025/26 season, he has already featured in 26 matches, scoring five goals and providing seven assists, totaling 12 direct goal contributions so far.
With Real Madrid heading into another final and Vinícius Jr. continuing to attract headlines both on and off the field, the Brazilian forward remains one of the most talked-about figures in Spanish football.
