When Vinicius Junior scored the opening goal in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano, it was impossible to miss the significance of his celebration.
He ran towards the crowd, repeatedly kissing the Real badge on his shirt, before raising his arms and urging supporters to silence the noise inside the stadium.
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Throughout the match, he continued to engage with the stands, directing his calls for support to the ultras, who set the tone inside the Bernabeu.
It felt like an intentional celebration — a chance for him to reaffirm his loyalty to a fan base that hasn’t always reciprocated.
Over the past few months, Vinicius has undoubtedly become the player most often booed by parts of the Bernabeu crowd, and he was once again the subject of hostile whistles on Sunday.
So why, despite another vital goal, does he continue to divide Real fans?
Why is Vinicius blamed?
There is no doubt that Real fans are frustrated.
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Real were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by a second division team, they missed out on an automatic place in the Champions League round of 16 and must go through the play-offs, and they sit below Barcelona in La Liga.
They made it difficult to win against a team ranked 17th in La Liga on Sunday, and they are already on their second manager of the season.
Things are not going well at Real and fans are looking for a player to blame. Vinicius has become that player.
First, his numbers this season have been poor.
The goal against Rayo Vallecano was his first in La Liga since October 4. He has scored eight goals for Real in all competitions, making him the club’s second highest scorer this season.
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But when you compare that to Kylian Mbappe’s 37, the gap is stark and Vinicius is expected to produce more.
BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague said Real fans are directing their anger at the player they expect to help them win, as well as the player they perceive as least close to the essence of what a Real player should be.
“Vinicius seems very foreign to many fans,” says Balague.
“His reactions on the pitch, his behavior, his public disagreements with former manager Xabi Alonso, his perceived lack of respect on the bench during the cup defeat to Albacete – all of this fuels the fans.
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“Changing his Instagram profile photo from a Real to Brazil photo after being whistled at the Bernabeu, and even pointing the finger at those who disrespect the color of his skin, is seen by some fans as creating unnecessary conflict.
“Vinicius is provocative and arrogant, but he doesn’t get the neutral reading that the others get.
“This constant suspicion must be exhausting and partly explains the volatility. The Bernabeu does not like volatility. It’s a trap.”
A racist connotation?
It is possible that the increased scrutiny of Vinicius is also due to a racist connotation that exists among some Spanish football fans.
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Vinicius was the victim of numerous racist attacks while playing for Real. In May, five people were given suspended prison sentences for racist abuse during a 2022 match against Real Valladolid.
In 2024, Vinicius declared “I am not a victim of racism, I am an executioner of racists” after three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for abusing him in 2023.
His yellow card on Sunday – his fifth this season in La Liga – means he will be unable to feature in Real’s match against Valencia next Sunday.
Some Valencia fans claimed on social media that Vinicius had deliberately received a yellow card to avoid having to play at the Mestalla.
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Ballague says: “Vinicius was feared by his rivals and was booed everywhere. He decided to face the criticism and even fight them from a distance.
“Racist abuse has shown its ugly face because in Spain many people wrongly think that in football everything is allowed.
“Vinicius denounced and fought racism without sufficient support from the media, other players or football in general and, initially, La Liga. Today, La Liga has become the vanguard of this fight.
“There are many at the Bernabeu and everywhere else who think that players should not fight against injustice, racism, discrimination. They want them to just be players.
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“Vinicius, who has lived with discrimination since birth, will not accept this.
“When you leave home feeling deeply like you don’t belong, the source of your frustration, or how to show it, can sometimes be confusing.”
Refusal to renew the contract
The fact that Vinicius did not renew his contract could be the fuel that ignited Los Blancos fans.
In the eyes of some supporters, a player’s commitment is measured not only by his performance on the pitch but also by his long-standing loyalty to the club.
So, when a star like Vinicius delays signing an extension, even if Real had prepared him before last summer’s Club World Cup, it can be interpreted as a lack of confidence in the project or a willingness to leave when the time suits him, even if that is not his intention.
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At Real, where the best players are expected to commit fully to the badge, uncertainty over a contract can quickly be interpreted as a sign that he is not “all in”.
Perhaps that’s why Vinicius has gone out of his way in recent weeks to demonstrate his loyalty through social media captions and badge-kissing celebrations.
He reportedly suspended contract negotiations because he was unhappy working under Alonso.
Since then, new manager Alvaro Arbeloa has repeatedly expressed his desire for Vinicius to remain at the club, while acknowledging that the final decision is not his.
Ballague said: “Real Madrid would renew his contract today or certainly before it ends in 2027. Vinicius is considering it and renewal remains the most likely outcome.
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“I wonder if his doubts now have to do with the fact that the fans still direct their anger at him.
“Why be where you’re not fully wanted, even if you’re one of the best?”
