REAL MADRID got 2020 off to a winning start at Getafe but teen forward Vinicius Jr came out of it badly after leaving the post-game warm-down early.
The Brazilian only played 20 minutes of the 3-0 victory and yet complained of tiredness when asked to go for a run after the final whistle.
Vinicius is testing the patience of his bosses at MadridCredit: Getty – Contributor
Concerns have been growing over Vinicius’ performances and this incident appeared to boil over the tension between the 19-year-old and his teammates.
According to senior Spanish journalist Eduardo Inda, fitness coach Gregory Dupont watched the winger do only three sprints before he said he was fatigued and was eventually allowed to head back to the dressing room.
The incident reportedly left boss Zinedine Zidane irate as senior players also had a stern word with Vinicius.
Inda told El Chiringuito de Jugones: “The dressing room and the club rapped Vinicius. They say it is like he is still on his holidays.
“He has p***ed them off that he didn’t want to train with the substitutes, he has p***ed off Zidane and the core of the dressing room.
“At the club, they also don’t like him being very active on social media ahead of developing his game and improving his technique.”
Real are said to still believe in Vinicius’ potential having paid £40million to sign him from Flamengo in 2017.
But his tally of a single La Liga goal this campaign has left him firmly in the shadow of fellow Brazilian wonderkid Rodrygo Goes.
With seven goals in his first year at Real, the 18-year-old nonetheless needs patience to perform consistently in Europe – according to Neymar.
The Paris Saint-Germain star told Globo Esporte: “In Brazil, people are in a bit of a rush. They want Rodrygo and Vinicius to crack it soon and blow up the league.
“Adapting is hard. It is tough to go to a high-level club like Real and Barcelona, to name just a few. Both are doing surprisingly well. It shows they have maturity and personality.
“I just hope they keep going like this, stay focused, never stop being happy and enjoying football – I will be one of the spectators.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk