Vinicius Jr. at Real Madrid: A Shifting Role and Growing Questions
real Madrid’s electrifying winger, Vinicius Jr., finds himself at a crossroads, his once-unstoppable form diminished under new manager Xabi alonso. The brazilian’s dazzling runs and decisive contributions, once hallmarks of his game, have become increasingly rare, leading to frustration from fans and even pointed remarks from opposing managers.
The 25-year-old’s impact was undeniable in recent seasons. In the 2023-24 campaign, Vinicius Jr. scored 21 goals and provided nine assists in La Liga and the Champions League, helping Madrid secure both titles. Even with the arrival of Kylian Mbappe, he remained a potent force, contributing 19 goals and 10 assists in the following 2024-25 season. However, this term has painted a different picture.
Currently, Vinicius Jr. has scored just five goals and registered seven assists in 25 appearances across La Liga and the Champions League. This downturn in form has been met with jeers from the Santiago Bernabéu faithful, a stark contrast to the adoration he once received. The situation reached a new level of tension during Thursday’s Supercopa de Espana semi-final, where Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone appeared to taunt the player, reportedly saying, “Florentino (Perez, Madrid president) is going to get rid of you.”
The shift in Vinicius Jr.’s fortunes is deeply intertwined with the tactical changes implemented by Alonso since taking the helm. Where previous coach Carlo Ancelotti favored a more fluid, player-driven approach, Alonso has prioritized structured possession and territorial dominance. This has fundamentally altered Vinicius jr.’s role on the pitch.
Previously, Vinicius Jr. enjoyed the freedom to roam across the final third, exploiting spaces and creating opportunities with his dynamic dribbling and incisive passing. Following Karim Benzema’s departure in 2023-24, Madrid often played without a traditional No. 9,with Jude Bellingham frequently deployed as a false nine. Mbappe’s tendency to drift in from the left further amplified the space available to the Brazilian.
Under Alonso, however, Vinicius Jr.’s primary duty has become to hold the width on the left flank, providing an outlet for passes and drawing defenders. This shift is reflected in his pass reception zones, which now concentrate along the touchline. Alonso’s system aims to create gaps in the opposition’s alignment through patient build-up play and late runs, requiring Vinicius Jr. to consistently stretch the defense.
While his touches in the attacking third have increased to 63.2 per 90 minutes, his involvement in central areas has drastically decreased, falling from 9.9 and 9.8 in the previous two seasons to just 6.97 per 90. This reduction in central activity has
