Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has accused Atletico Madrid counterpart Diego Simeone of “crossing the line” with remarks made to Vinicius Jr during Thursday’s Spanish Super Cup semi-final. Madrid won 2-1 in Saudi Arabia, setting up a Clasico final against Barcelona.
The flashpoint came nine minutes from time when Vinicius Jr was substituted. As he left the pitch, a heated exchange with Simeone erupted, prompting both benches to intervene. Officials showed yellow cards to both the player and the Atletico boss.
“I didn’t like it,” Alonso told Movistar. “I saw that Cholo said something to him. For me, those things cross a line in terms of respect for a colleague... not anything goes.” He added: “What he said isn’t an example of a good sportsman.”
Spanish broadcaster Movistar reported Simeone told Vinicius Jr: “Florentino Perez is going to kick you out, remember that. They’re going to kick you out.” Simeone declined to comment, saying “things that happen on the pitch, stay on the pitch.”
Vinicius Jr responded on social media, posting that Simeone had “lost yet another knockout match.” The two teams face off again in La Liga later this season, with tensions clearly simmering.
