Is Vinicius Jr. upset with Xabi Alonso? Breaking down Real Madrid minutes compared to other top wingers

For years, Vinicius Jr. has been one of the first names on the Real Madrid team sheet.

Blossoming into a global superstar under Carlo Ancelotti, the Brazilian superstar has become one of the most well-known attacking players in world football over the past five years.

Yet under new manager Xabi Alonso, things appear to have grown tense despite a strong start to the 2025-26 season under the Spaniard's leadership. Things came to a head after Vinicius experienced an on-field outburst in Madrid's latest win over rivals Barcelona, and suddenly there's buzz about what the future could hold for the star in the Spanish capital.

The Sporting News details why Vinicius Jr has become upset, whether those frustrations are justified, and what could take place between the two sides as they press on in the hunt for trophies.

MORE: Who are the Champions League top goal scorers this season?

Why is Vinicius Jr. upset with Xabi Alonso?

On Sunday, Oct. 26, Vinicius Jr's frustrations with his lack of minutes boiled over on the pitch for everyone to see.

With Real Madrid leading Clasico rivals Barcelona 2-1, the Brazilian's number appeared on the fourth official's board in the 72nd minute.

He immediately threw a tantrum on the field, upset that manager Xabi Alonso was taking him off. Vinicius became visibly frustrated as he the field before heading down the tunnel, bypassing the boss entirely on his way.

While Vinicius later apologized for his very public outburst, there are clearly frustrations behind the scenes which ultimately boiled over and spilled out onto the field of play.

Way back in the summer, The Athletic reported that a source close to Vinicius Jr. predicted that "it's not going to be an easy season" under Xabi Alonso. While Ancelotti was known as a player-friendly coach, Alonso is not of that mold, preferring a team-first mentality that puts long-term success ahead of instant gratification.

It would appear that the Real Madrid star is becoming increasingly unhappy with a perceived lack of playing time this season. "Always me," Vinicius was caught saying as he exited the pitch, lifting his arms and directing himself to assistant coach Sebas Parrilla.

But is Vinicius Jr. right to be upset about his playing time this year? Or are his frustrations a figment of his imagination?

MORE: La Liga top goal scorers as Vinicius Jr. chases teammate Kylian Mbappe for Pichichi award

Vinicius Jr. playing time under Xabi Alonso

It was clear on the Bernabeu pitch during the latest edition of El Clasico that Vinicius Jr. believes he has lost playing time under Xabi Alonso. It was also clear he is unhappy about this.

So has Vinicius lost minutes under the new regime, or is it imagined? Let's take a look.

As of the conclusion of Madrid's 2-1 Clasico victory, under Xabi Alonso, the Brazilian star has made 13 appearances across all competitions, totaling 880 minutes for an average of about 68 minutes per appearance.

That is undoubtedly a noticeable drop compared to his usage the last few seasons under Carlo Ancelotti.

Vinicius Jr. playing time by season, last 5 seasons

Under Xabi Alonso, Vinicius Jr's minutes per game have unquestionably dipped. However, Vini's deployment has largely not changed. He has appeared in all 13 of Real Madrid's games so far this season, with only two of those off the bench.

Other top wingers in Big 5 European league

Below is a comparison to the minutes that other top wingers in the world are afforded, across both the full 2024-25 season and the start to the current 2025-26 campaign.

Also included at the bottom is Jeremie Frimpong, the closest comparison from Xabi Alonso's previous squad at Bayer Leverkusen, in his final year under the Spaniard before leaving to join Liverpool this past summer.

Looking at this usage, Vinicius Jr's current logged minutes rank near the bottom of the list. However, a few things stand out.

First and foremost amongst the noticeable numbers is Jeremie Frimpong's usage while under Xabi Alonso. Most notably, Frimpong was deployed in a very similar manner to Vinicius so far, logging 72 minutes per game compared to Vini's 68.

The other thing that stands out nearly every single player that logged a high usage rate across the 2024-25 season has either dealt with injuries (Lamine Yamal, Raphinha) or poor form (Mohamed Salah) to start the current year. You can even throw Frimpong and his low substitution rate (went the full 90 in 49% of his starts) into that list, as the new Liverpool man has missed considerable time so far.

The rest, including Michael Olise, Bukayo Saka, and Ousmane Dembele all sport similar usage rates.

Diving even deeper, Mikel Arteta deployed Saka to the tune of 82.2 minutes per game in the 2023-24 season, which led directly to an injury-plagued 2024-25 and a subsequent reduction of his usage going forward, being substituted off in 66% of his starts through 2024-25 and so far this current campaign.

Football is changing. With an increase in fixture congestion, especially amongst the top sides, managers are beginning to adapt to keep their most prized possessions safe. Special care and attention is being shown to players who do the most sprinting, putting them at the highest risk of muscle concerns.

A player like Vinicius Jr, who was let loose during player-friendly Ancelotti's time in charge, is simply being protected to begin a long season. He must understand that this is the way to keep him fully fit across the entirety of the season -- if anything, the increased substitution rate under Alonso is a compliment, not an insult.

Could Vinicius Jr. leave Real Madrid?

Rumors of a Real Madrid exit began to swirl in the immediate aftermath of Vinicius Jr's El Clasico tantrum.

Eagle-eyed lip readers spotted Vinicus telling his assistant coach, "I’m leaving the team, it’s better if I leave, I’m leaving," as he demonstratively left the field and headed down the tunnel.

It's highly unlikely that any friction between Vinicius and Xabi Alonso would lead to a dramatic mid-season split, but there is a reality where the Brazilian departs next summer.

Last signing a contract extension in the summer of 2023, Vini's current deal expires in the summer of 2027. That means that unless the two parties come to a new agreement, he would enter next season with just one year left on his deal.

That could potentially lead to a negotiation standoff, and depending on the Brazilian's feelings on the current managerial regime, there could be a schism.

Ultimately, however, that scenario feels unlikely. Vinicius has been with Real Madrid since 2018, and is a fixture of the club's star-studded squad. The 25-year-old has repeatedly been backed by the club in tense situations, including through multiple instances of racial abuse and the boycott of the 2024 Ballon d'Or. Vinicius is embedded deep within the Real Madrid culture, and it would likely take a long, drawn-out period of animosity and tension to see him ripped from the Bernabeu.