In a shocking post-match revelation, Real Madrid winger Vinícius Jr. shared details of a tense confrontation with manager Carlo Ancelotti following his crucial penalty miss in their recent La Liga clash.
The Brazilian forward had a golden opportunity to secure a point for Los Blancos in the dying moments of the match, but his penalty was saved, a miss that ultimately contributed to Real Madrid’s narrow defeat. While fans and pundits expected Vinícius to take the blame, it was his comments about Ancelotti’s reaction after the game that stunned everyone.
“Of course, I take full responsibility for the miss,” Vinícius said during the press conference. “That penalty could’ve earned us a point, and I know how important that was. But what the manager said to me after the game… I just can’t accept it. Not from any manager.”
When asked for specifics about what Ancelotti said, Vinícius paused and responded, “I won’t go into full detail out of respect, but it wasn’t constructive. It wasn’t support. In a moment like that, when a player is already hurting, you expect your manager to lift you — not to make it worse.”
The room fell silent as the press absorbed the gravity of Vinícius’ words, sparking speculation about a rift between the manager and one of the club’s key players. Sources close to the team suggested Ancelotti may have questioned Vinícius’ mentality in high-pressure moments, with reports claiming he said, “Players at Real Madrid don’t crumble under pressure.”
If this is true, it appears to have struck a chord with the 23-year-old, who has been one of the team’s standout performers. Despite the friction, Vinícius reiterated his commitment to the club.
“I’ll always give everything for this club. I love Madrid. But respect has to go both ways,” he concluded before leaving the press room.
With Real Madrid now facing a critical phase of the season, including a Champions League knockout tie and the ongoing title race, all eyes will be on how the situation between Ancelotti and Vinícius evolves. Will they resolve their differences, or is this the beginning of a deeper divide within the squad? One thing is certain — this story is far from over.
