Vinícius Júnior transforms ‘boos into cheers’ during Madrid’s victory
Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa expressed his support for Vinícius Júnior after the prominent forward faced boos from fans during the team’s 2-1 victory over Alavés on Tuesday, stating that Vinícius had “transformed the boos into cheers” with his goal in the second half.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring for Madrid at the Bernabéu with a deflected shot, followed by Vinícius extending the lead to 2-0 with an impressive long-range strike, while Toni Martínez netted a consolation goal for the visitors in stoppage time.
The Bernabéu audience expressed their dissatisfaction regarding Madrid’s Champions League elimination by Bayern Munich by booing both Mbappé and Vinícius, and they also criticized substitute Eduardo Camavinga, who received a red card in Munich.
“Vinícius has consistently put in significant effort during challenging times,” Arbeloa remarked in his post-match press conference. “He has carried the team through tough moments. We cannot question his commitment. He is not afraid, he is courageous. He is a Madrid supporter, and he embodies the shirt and the emblem.”
“The fans are demanding; they expect the best from their players. Today, Vini turned the boos into cheers, he has done it previously, and that is what matters.”
Arbeloa also voiced his support for Camavinga, whose recent displays have faced scrutiny from supporters and the Madrid press.
“He possesses a great deal of character and experience despite his age,” Arbeloa stated. “He is similar to Vini; they both joined Real Madrid at a young age, achieved a lot, and won significant trophies. He has the trust of his coach and the club, and I am confident he has the fans’ support as well.”
Madrid’s victory brought them within six points of leaders Barcelona, who are set to face Celta Vigo on Wednesday, with the two rivals scheduled to clash in El Clásico on May 10.
Another standout, midfielder Jude Bellingham, seemed displeased after being substituted following just 58 minutes against Alavés, leading to a brief exchange with Arbeloa on the sidelines.
“Jude is coming from where he has been,” Arbeloa clarified. “In Munich, he played his first full 90 minutes in quite some time, and we have another match on Friday.”
“He has that mindset, that drive, and even in a match like this, he wants to continue contributing and remain on the field.”
Centre-back Éder Militão was taken off just before halftime at the Bernabéu due to an injury.
Club sources informed ESPN that the issue seemed to be related to a hamstring problem, although it was not considered serious.
