Vinicius Jr's Real Madrid future cast into doubt after El Clasico outburst as contract remains unsigned

Tension is said to have been rising between the 25-year-old and boss Xabi Alonso for some time, with Vinicius playing a full 90 minutes on just four occasions since the Spaniard took over in June.

But it was Sunday’s El Clasico that saw tempers boil over, with Vini taking the substitution personally.

"Always me," he is believed to have said, before adding: "I'm leaving the team, it's better if I leave, I'm leaving," he fumed as he stormed straight down the tunnel before returning for full-time.

Alonso could only watch on as Vini then became embroiled in further controversy after the whistle.

The star was involved in a heated spat with Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, with both players having to be restrained and forced down the tunnel in what turned out to be unsavoury scenes at the Bernabeu.

After the game, Vini refused to address his antics following the substitution, instead focusing on his exchange with Yamal: "That’s what El Clasico is like; there are many things on and off the pitch.

"We try to balance it all, but it’s not always possible. We don’t want to offend anyone, neither the Barca players nor the fans. We know that when we go out there, we have to play our part, and that was the case today."

And his boss was also keen to play down the incident, claiming there are "different personalities" in the dressing room, but that they are sure to "have a conversation" after the game.

"The only thing Vinicius was missing was a goal," Alonso said. "It’s true that he came off the pitch when he was feeling best and I could have waited a bit to replace him, but I understood that we needed fresh players to maintain control. Vinicius wanted to stay on because he was feeling good.

"Franco [Mastantuono] wanted to carry on playing too. He said to me, ‘Are you taking me off?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’

"Something similar happened with Vini. He wasn’t very happy, but neither was Franco. It happens to everyone, but I’m very happy with Vinicius’s performance. The schedule is demanding and we have to keep going."

And while the former Bayer Leverkusen manager remained calm about the situation, it appears to have disgruntled some at the club behind the scenes.

"Vinicius can’t put on that show," an anonymous club source is quoted as saying.

"It’s true that Xabi may have been too hasty in his substitution, but he’s the third captain and must set an example."

It is still unclear whether Vinicius will face any punishment from Madrid for his reaction, but it is said to be under consideration.

The Brazilian sees his current deal with Los Blancos expire in 2027, and had verbally agreed to a new contract at the Spanish giants - this remains unsigned.

According to MD, Vinicius asked for more money than the club were willing to commit to, and the club stood firm on their salary package offer.

The time is now ticking for the former Flamengo winger to decide if he would like to extend his stay in the Spanish capital, who need an answer before next summer.

With Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham finding their stride again, the Brazilian could be playing second or third fiddle in the fight for the limelight at the Bernabeu.

Additionally, Vinicius has been subject to racial abuse on countless occasions in Spain, with five people being handed a suspended prison sentence in May of this year in what was described as an "unprecedented" ruling.

Whether Vini will sign an extension is yet to be seen, but there are factors that make him unhappy.

His relationship with Alonso, who doesn’t look to be going anywhere anytime soon, could boil over and leave him no choice but to move on.

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