Vinícius Jr. breaks down in tears after being booed by Real Madrid fans

The atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabéu during Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Levante was far from celebratory. Despite the three points—secured by goals from Kylian Mbappé and the young homegrown defender Raúl Asencio—the spotlight was firmly fixed on the deteriorating relationship between the fans and Vinícius Jr. While the win allows Álvaro Arbeloa’s side to sit just one point behind FC Barcelona (who still have a difficult away fixture against Real Sociedad), the performance did little to heal the wounds of a disastrous month.

The Madrid faithful are currently in a state of high tension following the "Black Week" that saw the team lose the Spanish Super Cup to Barcelona, the subsequent firing of Xabi Alonso, and a historic humiliation in the Copa del Rey against second-division Albacete. In this context of institutional crisis, Vinícius Jr. has become the primary target of the supporters' frustration.

The hostility began long before the opening whistle. During the pre-match warm-ups, as the stadium announcer read the starting lineups, the decibel levels spiked significantly when Vinícius’ name was called. According to data provided by Diario AS, the whistling reached an intensity that made it clear the fans are no longer willing to overlook the Brazilian's recent dip in form.

This reaction stems from a perceived lack of commitment. With the winger currently refusing to sign a contract renewal while a €160 million offer from Chelsea looms in the background, the "Merengue" supporters feel that their star player is more focused on his future elsewhere than on rescuing the club from its current slump.

Perhaps the most dramatic moment of the evening occurred in the private corridors of the Bernabéu. A video captured by internal cameras showed a heartbreaking scene: Vinícius Jr. sitting alone on a bench, head down, visibly on the verge of tears. The weight of being booed by his own supporters seemed to have finally broken his legendary mental resilience.

Recognizing the distress of his teammate, Kylian Mbappé—who has quickly assumed a leadership role in the dressing room—along with veteran fitness coach Antonio Pintus, immediately approached Vinícius to offer emotional support. This moment of vulnerability highlights the immense psychological pressure the 25-year-old is under, caught between his loyalty to the club and the lure of a fresh start in the Premier League.

On the pitch, Vinícius remains a shadow of the player who nearly won the Ballon d’Or. Under Arbeloa’s brief tenure, the winger has struggled to find his rhythm. Prior to his goal in the Super Cup final, he had endured a staggering 19-match drought without a goal or an assist. Against Levante, while his effort was visible, his effectiveness was non-existent. He failed to complete a single successful dribble in the final third, a statistic that is almost unheard of for a player of his caliber.

The tension reached a boiling point at the final whistle. While the rest of the squad stayed on the pitch to celebrate the much-needed victory and thank the fans for their support, Vinícius did the opposite. Visibly angry and disconnected, he walked straight to the locker room without greeting his teammates, shaking hands with the Levante players, or acknowledging the stands.

This act of perceived "immaturity" was immediately slammed on social media. Fans and pundits alike noted that for a player at the 15-time Champions League winners, such behavior is unacceptable. The consensus among the "Madridista" community is that Vinícius needs to decide his future quickly; either fully commit to the crest or accept the offer to leave, as the current "middle ground" is hurting both the player and the institution.