Vinicius Jr responds after being whistled by Real Madrid fans at Bernabeu

December 22, 2025 Oliver Obel

Real Madrid’s pursuit of Barcelona at the top of La Liga continued with a home victory on Saturday, but the result was overshadowed by visible tension between supporters and Vinicius Jr inside the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid’s 2–0 win over Sevilla moved them to within one point of the league leaders. Yet the reaction to Vinicius’ late substitution became the defining moment of the evening, highlighting growing unease around one of the club’s most prominent players.

Bellingham strikes as Madrid control play

Madrid took the lead late in the first half when Jude Bellingham headed past Odysseas Vlachodimos after rising above the Sevilla defence. The goal settled a cautious start and allowed the hosts to manage the tempo for long spells.

The advantage was doubled four minutes from time when Kylian Mbappe converted a penalty, recording his 28th goal of the season across all competitions. Statistics cited by GIVEMESPORT show the French forward has now matched a long-standing Real Madrid scoring benchmark over a calendar year.

Crowd reaction shifts focus

Attention turned away from the result in the 83rd minute when Vinicius was substituted. As the Brazilian left the pitch, sustained whistles were audible from large sections of the stadium, a response that contrasted sharply with the team’s position in the title race.

Vinicius was replaced by Gonzalo Garcia, with only limited applause accompanying the change. The reaction reflected ongoing frustration among supporters, for whom demanding standards at the Bernabeu have historically extended even to the club’s most accomplished players.

Social media activity adds to discussion

The scrutiny continued after full time when Vinicius altered his Instagram profile picture, replacing an image associated with Real Madrid with one showing him in Brazil colours. The change was first highlighted by Madrid Zone.

He later shared two photographs from the matchday without comment. According to WhoScored, Vinicius has recorded five goals and five assists in La Liga this season, output that contrasts with the criticism he has faced in recent weeks.

Alonso plays down tensions

Head coach Xabi Alonso sought to ease concerns following the match. “The fans are free to express themselves,” he said, according to Bolavip. “It was a complicated match, but I value where the team is, considering the absences, and now we rest.”

Despite the result, speculation around Vinicius’ future has continued. Media reports in recent months have linked Manchester United and Chelsea with potential interest in the 25-year-old, although no formal approach has been confirmed.

For Madrid, the focus now returns to the title race. For Vinicius, however, the reception he received served as a reminder of the scrutiny that comes with his status and of the limited patience often shown by a Bernabeu crowd accustomed to decisive performances.

Sources: GIVEMESPORT, Bolavip, Madrid Zone, WhoScored