Real Madrid Legend Toni Kroos, Defends Vinicius' Reaction In El Clasico Match

Toni Kroos defended Vinicius Junior's angry reaction when he was replaced at El Clasico (Instagram/@toni.kr8s).

Instead of getting criticism, Vinicius Junior's angry reaction when he was replaced in the El Clasico match between Real Madrid vs Barcelona even received support.

Vinicius was pulled out by Xabi Alonso to include Rodrygo in the 72nd minute when the position was 2-1 up.

He looked angry to question the decision while still on the pitch and went straight to the dressing room tunnel, before finally returning to the bench at the end of the match at the Santiago Bernabeu, Sunday, October 26, 2025.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos sees from his point of view as a player who also doesn't like to be replaced.

However, Kroos insists that players should also be able to control anger.

"I also never like to be replaced. To be honest, I never went straight to the dressing room."

"We can always judge from the outside. However, no one, except those there, played at El Clasico in front of 80,000 people, with a score of 2-1, tofu."

"The last thing you want is to get off the pitch. Nobody thinks (Vini) can imagine it."

"Most people can't put themselves in place. With a little distance, he might think that he should control his anger more."

"I can understand it. It doesn't give an ideal impression. However, it's an extraordinary emotional situation," Kroos said in his latest podcast episode, Einfach mal Lupen.

ESPN reports that the relationship between Vinicius and Alonso is now strained. The player plans to talk to his team-mates in the coming days, before meeting the coach.

Vinicius then returned to the bench at the end of the game and received a yellow card in a chaotic mood as the final whistle sounded as several players - including Dani Carvajal - confronted Lamine Yamal, after comments made by Barcelona strikers last week criticizing Real Madrid.

Alonso has crossed out Vinicius - who has scored five goals and four assists so far in the 2025/2026 season - from the starting eleven three times this season.

"We'll talk about it later. I will focus on positive things in the game and the good things from Vini."

"I don't want to distract from the important things. Vini contributes a lot," Alonso said when asked about Vinicius' reaction.

ESPN previously reported that Vinicius' representative believed Alonso was not a fan of the attacker. The relationship between the two has been broken even though it has not fully recovered.

Alonso gave Real Madrid players a break two days after the win at El Clasico.

Vinicius took advantage of that time by going to Monaco, after having dinner with his friends where the drama around the game was not discussed.

New contract negotiations for Vinicius - with his current contract ending in 2027 - are currently stalled, after the club's initial contract offer did not include a player's charge of 10 million euros in variables, over an annual salary of 20 million euros.