
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso brushed aside Vinicius Junior’s annoyance at getting substituted, insisting that even if the player wasn’t happy, he was pleased with the Brazilian forward.
Vinicius has spent the past four seasons as an undisputed starter for Real Madrid, establishing himself as a figurehead of Carlo Ancelotti’s serial winners. That untouchable status has rapidly evaporated during Alonso’s brief reign.