Atlético Boss Alters Real Madrid Star During Derby, Sparking Sideline Melee
Real Madrid booked a Spanish Super Cup final date with Barcelona by defeating city rivals Atlético Madrid 2-1 on Thursday, but a bitter war of words between Atlético boss Diego Simeone and Real forward Vinícius Júnior threatened to overshadow the match.
The feisty encounter, settled by goals from Federico Valverde and Rodrygo, saw tensions boil over in the first half when Simeone and Vinícius engaged in a furious touchline exchange. According to Spanish broadcaster Movistar, Simeone taunted the Brazilian by telling him: “Florentino Pérez is going to kick you out, remember that.”
The feud reignited late in the game when Vinícius was substituted, sparking a melee involving players and staff after Simeone allegedly gestured toward booing fans and shouted, “Listen to the people!” in his direction.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso condemned Simeone’s conduct after the match. “I heard what Simeone said to Vini, and I didn’t like it,” Alonso said. “You cannot talk like that. Some things cross the line.”
The incident casts a shadow over Vinícius, who is now without a goal in 15 matches and has faced whistles from sections of the Bernabéu crowd in recent weeks. Mounting speculation links him with a summer exit, with Chelsea and Saudi clubs reportedly interested.
Before the match, teammate Jude Bellingham voiced support for the struggling star. “Vinicius as a player and a person is under a huge amount of pressure,” Bellingham said. “Sometimes people forget it’s a human doing those things.”
For now, Real can celebrate a place in Sunday’s El Clásico final, but the simmering conflict and Vinícius’s uncertain future add a dramatic subplot to their pursuit of silverware.
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