A fiery touchline confrontation between Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has spilled onto social media, with the Brazilian forward mocking his rival after a dramatic Super Cup semi-final.
The Touchline Flashpoint
The incident occurred during the 81st minute of Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over their city rivals on Thursday night. Vinicius, who was being substituted, immediately turned towards the Atletico technical area and began shouting at Simeone. The Argentine coach had reportedly made a comment in the player's direction as he left the pitch.
Spanish media outlets state that pitch-side microphones picked up Simeone repeatedly telling Vinicius that Real Madrid 'were going to get rid of him'. This was a clear reference to widespread reports about the winger's uncertain future at the Bernabeu, a claim Simeone did not deny in his post-match comments.
The situation escalated rapidly, requiring Real Madrid staff and teammates to restrain Vinicius on the touchline. Both the player and the manager were shown yellow cards for their roles in the altercation, while Real head coach Xabi Alonso also became involved, shouting and gesticulating towards the Atletico bench.
Post-Match Fallout and Social Media Jab
The war of words continued long after the final whistle. In his press conference, Xabi Alonso strongly criticised Simeone's conduct, stating it had 'crossed a line' in terms of respect for an opponent.
"I didn't like it," Alonso told Movistar. "For me, those things cross a line in terms of respect of a colleague... not anything goes. What he said isn't an example of a good sportsman. You have to have respect for your opponents. There's a limit."
Simeone, in contrast, refused to be drawn on the details. "I don't have anything to say," he stated. "Things that happen on the pitch stay on the pitch. I have nothing more to say. I respect all of Real Madrid's players, a lot."
Not content to let the matter rest, Vinicius Jr later stoked the flames on social media. He commented on a video of the incident posted by journalist Fabrizio Romano, writing in Spanish: 'You (Simeone) have lost another qualifying round'.
Broader Context: Vinicius's Future in Doubt
The touchline spat highlights the intense pressure surrounding Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian is enduring a significant goal drought, having not scored in 16 consecutive games. His form has led to him being whistled by some sections of the Real Madrid support.
Furthermore, reports indicate his relationship with manager Xabi Alonso is strained, and talks over a new contract for the winger—whose current deal runs until 2027—have reportedly been stalled since May of last year. Simeone's pointed remarks directly tapped into this simmering speculation about a potential exit.
On the pitch, Real Madrid progressed to the Super Cup final for the fifth season in a row thanks to goals from Federico Valverde and Rodrygo. They will face Barcelona in another El Clasico on Sunday, 11 January, after Barca's 5-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the other semi-final.
