Vinicius Junior opens up on Xabi Alonso rift, his El Clasico rant, and reveals Real Madrid contract decision will be made 'at the right moment'

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Vinicius Junior will lead Real Madrid's charge against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday night at the Bernabeu. But a few months back, the Brazilian was struggling under Xabi Alonso, and the 25-year-old has now reflected on the lack of "connection" he felt with his former boss, in marked comparison to new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa.

Carney, Lescott praise Arbeloa's handling of 'human' Vinicius

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Vinicius Junior says he struggled to "connect" with former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso as he opened up on his "not very nice" reaction to being substituted in last October's La Liga Clasico.

The Brazilian cut a frustrated figure as Alonso took him off in the latter stages of that encounter against Barcelona at the Bernabeu, appearing to shout "always me" at the culmination of a difficult period under the ex-Liverpool midfielder.

With Alonso removed from his position in January, Vinicius has, however, been revived under new boss Alvaro Arbeloa.

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The 25-year-old, speaking to the media from Real Madrid's Valdebebas training complex on the eve of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max - has reflected on that incident and his wider lack of "connection" with Alonso.

"It was a difficult moment because I was playing lots of games but I had not many minutes," Vinicius, speaking in Spanish, said of his early season struggles.

"But every coach has their own method, every coach has their things, and I think I wasn’t able to connect with what he [Alonso] wanted and what the team needed.

"But it was a moment of learning, I learned a lot. The players helped me a lot at this time as well. I was able to reflect a lot and improve as a person.

"Hopefully I can continue like this with Arbeloa, who I have a brilliant relationship with. He has always given me confidence and he’s always told me what I have to do.

"I am prepared and ready to play great games for this manager and for this club that has given me such a lot.

"I have a great relationship with Arbeloa, like I had with [ex-Real boss Carlo] Ancelotti. I give everything for this team like I always have, and like I always will."

Vinicius' nadir under Alonso came during October's El Clasico, with the Brazilian removed for compatriot Rodrygo in the 73rd minute, sparking a furious rant from the outgoing winger.

"It wasn’t a very nice moment," Vinicius said. "I apologised to the team, to the club and to the coach and everyone that was there at that moment.

"I apologised to the fans as well, it was a complicated moment. I play all the games and I never want to come off.

"Afterwards with a calm head I understood I’d made a mistake. That happens, I’m young, I’m only 25, but I have a lot of experience.

"Every day is a new experience where you can improve, and I think I am improving in this aspect, and I want to continue improving so that every day I am an example for kids and others."

Things look a whole lot brighter for Vinicius under Arbeloa, and with his contract expiring next summer, a renewal now appears likely, as the Brazilian revealed.

"Hopefully I can continue for a long time with this team," he said.

"I am very calm because I have the confidence of the president, and all of the people that talk with me every day. We’re very calm about what we want.

"At the right moment we’ll do the contract renewal and I’ll be able to continue with this team for a long time because it’s the club of my dreams, and every day I’m here, I’m happy and I want to stay with this team for many years."

'Being booed at home a learning experience'

Speaking exclusively to TNT Sports, Vinicius admitted he is relishing the chance of taking on a Bayern Munich side spearheaded by Harry Kane, who has scored 53 goals for club and country this season in just 45 appearances.

"He's certainly one of the best, not just now, but for a long time, throughout his entire career," Vinicius told TNT Sports. "He's always scored a lot of goals, always played incredible matches.

"He's a striker who's very reminiscent of Karim Benzema, who played here. He not only scores goals, but he also makes the other players play better. I wish him all the best, because I've always been a big fan of his, because I like his style of play, but I hope he can't do the things he usually does tomorrow."

Vinicius also gave a simple explanation for his own good form since the turn of the year, including 10 goals in his last 12 club outings.

"I think I'm in my best position, feeling confident," he continued. "The coach trusts me, the team is playing better, and I'm more connected with the fans, because they've been through some tough times this season. I don't like being booed at home, but it's a learning experience, and it happens to the best players at the biggest club in the world.

"The pressure is normal; I've been here a long time, but every year there are new things, everything can change. Just as it's changed for the worse, it's also changed for the better. I've been able to shake things up, be more connected, I've scored the goals, and I'm ready for tomorrow. I'm sure the fans have confidence in me and all the players."

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