Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has criticised Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone over the latter’s spat with Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr during the clash between the Madrid rivals.
Real Madrid beat Atletico 2-1 in the Spanish Super Cup semifinals to qualify to the finals where they are scheduled to play against bitter rivals FC Barcelona in the final on Sunday, January 11 at 19:00 GMT. Barcelona thumped Athletic Bilbao 5-0 in its semifinal clash.
In the 80th minute, Simeone and Vinicius Jr had a brief but heated exchange that almost sparked a melee involving technical members of either team. Simeone reportedly told the Brazilian while he was getting substituted that, “Vini Vini…Florentino [Perez] is going to get rid of you, remember I told you.”
Simeone’s reported statements didn’t go down well with Vinicius Jr and his reactions got him booked with Simeone suffering the same fate. Speaking after the game to the club’s media, Alonso addressed the dust up and expressed his disappointment over Simeone’s words.
“The first thing is that I try to be respectful with the players of the opposing team and I don’t usually talk to them. What he said to him is not an example of good sportsmanship and for me not everything goes. You have to have respect for your opponent and everything that happens on the pitch has a limit” Alonso said.
Following a reduced role since Alonso’s appointment as head coach and refusal to sign a new contract over wage differences with the club, Vinicius Jr is reportedly a target to be moved by Real Madrid President Florentino Perez. Scroll down to watch video of Diego Simeone’s clash with Vinicius Jr
Diego Simeone told Vinicius Jr during the game:
“Vini, Vini… Florentino is going to get rid of you, remember I told you!” 😭😭😭
pic.twitter.com/q6Bgz4pg4c— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) January 8, 2026
