Vinicius Junior told to 'forget Real Madrid’ after failed trick at Club World Cup

Vishal Bhawani

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Vinicius Junior told to 'forget Real Madrid’ after failed trick at Club World Cup image

Vinicius Junior may have helped Real Madrid beat Pachuca 3-1 in the Club World Cup, but it wasn’t his finest hour.

The Brazilian winger attempted a flashy rainbow flick — and it flopped hard. Now, fans online are calling him out in full force.

It was a moment that was meant to entertain, but it backfired. Instead of bringing the crowd to its feet, Vinicius ended up being the punchline on social media.

Some fans even went as far as to say he doesn’t belong at Real Madrid anymore. Talk about a tough crowd.

Vinicius, once feared by full-backs across Europe, has been struggling for form lately. The 24-year-old hasn’t looked like himself for a while now.

This latest incident has only added fuel to that fire.

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What Xabi Alonso said and how fans reacted over failed rainbow flick by Vinicius Junior?

Despite the criticism, head coach Xabi Alonso is not ready to throw in the towel. He said: “I don’t think he needs to be reminded of the situation. He’s fine, but we all want to push him to be decisive, as he has been on many occasions.”

Alonso added: “He has that unpredictable style of play that sets him apart. When he manages to connect with his essence on the pitch, it’s crucial.”

But fans weren’t as forgiving. One user wrote (@Carrington_FCB): “Forget Ballon d’Or level. Forget Superstar level. Forget Real Madrid level. Dude looks like he should not be playing professional football.”

Another posted (@UtdBloke_): “This is the 19th time Vinicius is trying a rainbow flick and failed all. Someone tell Vini Jr to try some other skills.”

Madrid still have to face Salzburg in their final group match, and they need a win to advance. If they lose and Al-Hilal win, they’re out, despite being one of the favorites to win the tournament. 

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Vishal Bhawani

Vishal Bhawani is a sub-editor for the Affiliate Content team and a writer and sub-editor for the Football Wires team at The Sporting News. Based in Indore, India, he holds a Diploma in Operations and Management from Maharashtra University.

Before joining TSN in May 2024, Vishal contributed to Football Express and Six Sports and ran his own blog, Anfield Home, as a passionate Liverpool fan. An avid traveler, he follows multiple sports, including cricket, soccer, and tennis.