Getafe boss rips into Vinicius: 'He doesn't represent Real Madrid values'
Quique Sánchez Flores didn't hold back in his assessment of Real Madrid's current crisis, taking aim at Vinicius Jr and questioning player power at the club.
Getafe manager Quique Sánchez Flores has delivered a scathing assessment of Real Madrid’s current struggles, with Vinicius Jr bearing the brunt of his criticism in a remarkable radio interview.
Vinicius in the firing line
Sánchez Flores didn’t mince his words when discussing the Brazilian forward, suggesting Vinicius has fallen well short of the standards expected at the Bernabéu.
“I’m with the portion of fans who’ve grown very nervous with Vinicius,” the Getafe boss declared. “He doesn’t represent the values of Real Madrid in the last two years and is miles away from the player he could become.”
The veteran Spanish coach went even further, claiming the club sided with Vinicius over Xabi Alonso following the player’s visible frustration at being substituted in El Clásico - a moment that may have accelerated the manager’s departure.
Madrid’s structural problems
Sánchez Flores identified several tactical issues plaguing Los Blancos:
- The “inconceivable” absence of a proper number 10 for five months
- Two defensive, “uncreative” midfielders struggling to connect with Mbappé and Vinicius
- What he termed a “tremendous short circuit” in the team’s attacking structure
The Madrid-born manager also questioned the players’ commitment, suggesting they’d already shown their power last season by downing tools under “a very high-level coach” - and now history appears to be repeating itself.
Bellingham and ‘compadres’
Interestingly, Sánchez Flores hinted at wider disciplinary issues within the squad, suggesting Vinicius isn’t acting alone in his rebellion.
“When one rebels, he doesn’t do it alone - he does it with his ‘compadres’,” he noted, while adding that Bellingham needs to “awaken his mental side” despite his obvious talent.
The comments paint a picture of a dressing room in disarray, with player power trumping managerial authority - not what you’d expect from the European champions who’ve looked well off the pace in recent weeks.
For Madrid fans, it’s a proper dog’s dinner right now. The question is whether interim boss Arbeloa can restore order or if the players will continue calling the shots.