Vinícius Júnior was once again in the spotlight, but not for his fair play. He came on in the 63rd minute after leaving the bench and didn't take long to show his character. From the very first moment, he sought confrontation with the crowd and the referee.
His gestures, provocations, and simulated fouls created tension at the Tartiere. Even Mbappé had to put his hand over his lips after the second goal, trying to calm him down, but it wasn't enough.
The Brazilian seems to accumulate confrontations in every stadium; his first dive earned him a yellow card. The chants of "fool, fool" from the stands fired up Vinícius even more, who faced the referee and replied with gestures toward the fans. The first sending-off of the season was close, but the referee kept calm and the card was enough for the moment.
Controversial celebrations
The second goal for Real Madrid didn't calm the forward. In fact, his gestures were aimed directly at the referee, as Manolo Lama clarified on Cadena COPE. Vinícius didn't stop there: his third goal served to continue the show of provocations, this time toward Oviedo's fans, whom he reminded of their situation in LaLiga.
On his first visit to the new Tartiere, Vinícius managed to earn the hostility of the local fans. His reaction on social media confirmed his stance: "This is how I am," he wrote next to an image in which he pointed to his ear, directly challenging Oviedo's supporters.
Warnings and lessons to learn
The referee tried to teach the forward a lesson at the end of the match so he would moderate his behavior. However, it seems that Vinícius remains determined to keep his provocative style.
The season looks complicated for him. Referees already know his history and don't hesitate to penalize him quickly. Every stadium he visits can become a hostile environment.
From the club, Xabi Alonso avoided commenting on the incident, while Carlo Ancelotti did reprimand him, but only in private. The strategy seems to be to protect the player publicly while correcting his behavior off camera.
An uncertain future at Madrid
The competition with Mbappé and the new signings adds pressure. Vinícius is no longer the admired young man who was close to the Ballon d'Or. His performance has dropped since Rodri won the award for best player of last season, and this increases the tension both on and off the field.
Every season, Vinícius's show seems to repeat itself. In Oviedo, it was clear: neither the stands, nor the referee, nor his teammates can stop his explosive character. The Brazilian will have to learn to control his gestures if he wants to avoid bigger conflicts and keep his position at Real Madrid.