Vinícius Júnior is no longer untouchable. What was once absolute admiration has turned into doubt and disappointment. The Brazilian, who just a few months ago was hailed as the soul of Real Madrid, is now starting to be booed by his own fans.
Santiago Bernabéu has changed its demeanor, patience is running out. In the last home games, the boos toward the winger have been evident, it's no coincidence. The performance is not up to par.
Manolo Lama Breaks the Silence
Journalist Manolo Lama said it clearly on El Tertulión de la COPE: "Much more must be demanded from Vinícius than what he is offering." It's not an isolated criticism. It's a symptom that something is not working.
Lama was even more forceful: "On December 31, everyone said that the star of Madrid was Vinícius, they didn't even talk about Mbappé. Now, he must be asked." Words that have made noise in the locker room and outside of it.
The lack of self-criticism, the attitude in some games, and the low contribution in key moments are starting to wear thin. It's not just about talent. It's about commitment.
The Gesture That Set Off All the Alarms
Manolo Lama didn't just talk about Vinícius's soccer level. He went further. On Tiempo de Juego, he recalled a gesture that has raised blisters among Madrid fans: the Brazilian's attitude after the defeat against Valencia (1-2).
"A footballer who loses 1-2 can't put his name and success above Real Madrid," Lama said with a tone of indignation that did not go unnoticed. He added, annoyed: "It's inexplicable."
What happened? After the final whistle, Vinícius stayed in the center of the field, head down... but not because of the defeat. The cameras caught him more focused on personal controversies than on the team's bad moment. His gesture, for many, was more an act of victimhood than self-criticism.
Vinícius, Facing His Big Test
The season is entering its most decisive phase. Europe and LaLiga are at stake in a few weeks. Madrid needs leaders, players who step up, and Vinícius is obliged to be one of them.
The numbers don't support him: two goals in the last nine games. Little for someone who was supposed to be the offensive reference. The energy, the flair, and the joy that characterized his play seem to have vanished.
The physical wear, the media pressure, the constant controversies... it all adds up, but soccer doesn't wait. Bernabéu doesn't give eternal applause, you either perform, or you get booed.
Vinícius has more than enough quality to turn the situation around, but he needs to react now. Lama's message is not just a criticism, it's a warning. Perhaps, also, a last call.