Despite a comfortable 4-0 win, the manager’s pointed comments about who should take spot-kicks hint at unresolved tensions with the Brazilian star.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso delivered a subtle but pointed message after his team’s 4-0 rout of Valencia on Saturday, making it clear that Kylian Mbappé, not Vinícius Júnior, is the designated penalty taker after a mid-game disagreement between his star players.
The dominant victory, which solidifies Madrid’s place at the top of La Liga, was briefly overshadowed when Vinícius stepped up to take a second-half penalty instead of Mbappé, who had already scored from the spot and was chasing a hat-trick. Vinícius saw his effort saved by Valencia’s goalkeeper, prompting a visible reaction of frustration from Alonso on the sideline.
In his post-match press conference, Alonso was coy when asked about players deciding penalty duties among themselves. “I like it when they score the penalties,” he remarked, leaving little doubt about his disapproval of the on-field decision.
While Alonso was quick to praise Vinícius’s overall performance, the dig appears to be the latest chapter in a growing tension between the manager and the Brazilian winger. The relationship was tested just last weekend when Vinícius was visibly upset after being substituted against Barcelona, storming down the tunnel in a moment of frustration. Although Vinícius later issued a private and public apology to the club, it notably did not mention Alonso by name.
The manager has since declared the substitution incident “settled,” but Saturday’s penalty episode suggests that establishing harmony within his glittering attack remains a work in progress. For now, the message is clear: when a penalty is awarded, all eyes should be on Mbappé.
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