Vinicius and Xabi Alonso settle rift at Real Madrid - trust rebuilt, project aligned

Calm has returned at Real Madrid. Multiple indications point to the tension between Vinicius Junior and head coach Xabi Alonso being over. The Brazilian believes his game fits the manager’s system and the staff feel his profile is central to the project. After that fiery El Clasico flashpoint, Madrid have hit stride again, scoring three against Athletic Club and looking sharper in and out of possession. Fans remain split about recent touchline antics and off-field noise, but the dressing room message is clear - align for trophies. With Manchester City looming as a benchmark, this reconciliation arrives at the right time.

The development follows days of internal conversations at Valdebebas, with senior figures reinforcing a shared plan between player and coach. Spanish press briefings signalled a thaw after the El Clasico incident, and the team’s strong response against Athletic Club underlined a tactical reset that empowers Vinicius on the left. The club’s calendar intensifies in December, keeping the focus on La Liga momentum and Champions League positioning. Around the squad, the mood is that the dispute has been addressed privately and professionally, allowing Madrid to push forward with clarity.

🚨 The tension between Vinicius and Xabi Alonso is OVER. Vinicius trusts the coach, his project and believes his style fits perfectly with Xabi’s system. @diarioas

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Football-wise, this is a big stabiliser for Madrid. Alonso’s shape often morphs between a 4-3-3 and a 3-2-5 in possession, with the left winger tasked to stretch wide, then attack the left half space on triggers. That is Vinicius at his best. The peace clears the runway for consistent roles and repeatable patterns - early switches to isolate him 1v1, full back support to pin, and a central box to occupy the back line so Vinicius can curve inside to shoot or slide the far-post pass. It also clarifies rest-defense: with the double pivot set and the left back timing overlaps, the team can take aggressive positions without being vulnerable to the counter when Vinicius loses the ball on high-risk dribbles.

Tactically, Jude Bellingham benefits because a predictable left-side threat drags lines and opens central lanes for third-man combinations. Rodrygo or the right-sided forward gains more far-post chances as back lines tilt toward Vinicius. Set pieces also improve - more fouls won on the left translates to higher expected goals from dead balls.

Psychologically, this removes a distraction. Even minor frictions can slow decision speed by a fraction - enough to blunt transitions. With trust restored, the first touch is cleaner, the release is earlier, and pressing jumps are more coordinated. The ripple effect is competitive: rivals will find it harder to double Vinicius without being punished centrally. In title races, weeks of calm like this can be decisive.

Reaction

Fans read it in two ways. A hopeful camp sees a title-chasing duo emerging. Nicol wrote that the league was not ready for this partnership, while Yana called it fantastic news. J5 and mlaski echoed that the Bilbao match already showed the chemistry, with Madrid’s left side humming from minute one.

There is caution too. Ade warned that a setback against Manchester City could reignite debate about trust and renewals, and youdeserve Fot suggested formal contract steps might only be revisited in 2026. Pauluz raised a sensitive point - the relationship between Vinicius and some fans after the Bilbao incident, asking whether this reconciliation extends beyond the dressing room. Marcus took a pragmatic line, noting that the El Clasico blowup might have been a catalyst that sharpened focus, pointing to the three-goal show against Athletic Club.

Across my messages with supporters’ groups, the sentiment skews 60-40 optimistic. Most agree on two conditions: keep the wins coming and avoid public flashpoints. The minority remains skeptical, fearing that one bad European night can inflame old narratives. The shared baseline though is clear - trophies will settle everything.

Social reactions

Vini x Xabi tension was so dangerous for the game Thankfully it is over now

Asjid POV (@Asjid_POV)

Only took one win lol

✞ (@aotalksball)

what about Vini and the fans? especially after what we saw with that female bilbao fan last match

Pauluz (@PauluzRFRM)

Prediction

Base case: the truce holds and Madrid convert it into points. Expect Alonso to lean into automatic patterns on the left - early diagonals from the back, quick wall passes from the eight, and underlaps that free Vinicius to attack the channel between full back and center back. Output should be steady, with decisive contributions in tight La Liga matches where one action defines the result.

Upside case: if the press behind Vinicius clicks, Madrid can pin teams for long spells. That yields more recoveries near the box and extra shots before defenses reset. In Europe, this could push Madrid into the late spring with fresher legs and a cleaner rotation, especially if the right side adds goals to balance scouting attention.

Risk case: a high-stakes tie against Manchester City exposes the project if Madrid’s rest-defense is a touch slow and the ball-side support for Vinicius arrives late. If he gets isolated 1v2 without the five-lane occupation Alonso wants, transitions the other way become dangerous and frustration creeps back. The key hedge is discipline - shorten distances, commit the full back on the right moments, and accept the extra pass when the dribble isn’t on. If those habits stick, the peace persists and a renewed deal, whenever tabled, becomes a formality.

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Conclusion

For Madrid, this is the result that matters most - alignment. Vinicius is a match winner when the environment suits him, and Alonso’s structure can both free and protect him. The recent performance spike suggests the message has landed in the dressing room: press together, attack with layers, defend the box with numbers. It sounds simple, but the hardest part is trust. That looks repaired.

There will be noise on the outside, and a heavyweight European tie will test the calm. But the internal signals are positive - defined roles, consistent training reps, and a clear left-sided identity. If the team keeps its distances compact and the stars buy into small details, Madrid’s ceiling rises. The rift is yesterday’s story. The next chapter is about how often Vinicius decides games rather than headlines. That shift alone can be the margin in a title race.