Xabi Alonso Fuels Vinicius Junior Feud With Blunt Penalty Verdict

Xabi Alonso made a subtle excavation toward Vinícius Júnior aft nan winger took and missed a punishment against Valencia, reiterating that Kylian Mbappé is Real Madrid’s designated taker.

Los Blancos cruised to a 4–0 victory complete nan 18th-place broadside connected Saturday evening, keeping a patient foothold atop nan La Liga standings. The crippled was not without controversy, though, and Vinícius was erstwhile again astatine nan halfway of it.

Instead of Mbappé, who had already successfully converted from 12 yards retired earlier successful nan lucifer and was connected a chapeau trick, Vinícius Júnior stepped up to nan spot successful nan 43rd minute. The Brazil world saw his effort saved by Valencia goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala, which prompted a disappointment guidance from Alonso connected nan bench.

After nan match, Alonso admitted players person nan powerfulness to make decisions connected nan pitch, but he made it a constituent to sanction Mbappé arsenic nan man that should beryllium steeping up for Real Madrid’s spot kicks.

When asked if he likes erstwhile players determine among themselves who takes a penalty, Alonso issued nan pursuing coy response: “I for illustration it erstwhile they people nan penalties.”

Xabi Alonso was not impressed pinch Vinícius Júnior’s missed penalty. / Oscar Del Pozo/AFP/Getty Images

Alonso went connected to praise Vinícius’s wide capacity against Valencia, but nan subtle excavation possibly hinted astatine nan increasing tensions betwixt nan head and his superstar forward, which each came to a caput successful past weekend’s El Clásico.

Vinícius mislaid his cool connected nan transportation erstwhile Alonso took him retired successful nan 72nd infinitesimal against Barcelona earlier nan No. 7 stormed down nan tunnel. Following nan incident, nan 25-year-old issued a backstage and public apology to Real Madrid that notably did not mention his manager.

Still, Alonso declared nan issue “settled” aft nan apology, adding that he was “very satisfied” pinch Vinícius’s statement.

Despite nan tensions betwixt nan two, Los Blancos extended their winning streak to six matches crossed each competitions, keeping nan wide tone of nan squad high.

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