Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior changed his mind after the first match of 2025 and was generally reluctant to admit fault in his complaints to referees. However, after being sent off against Valencia, he apologized to his teammates on social media.
The Brazilian had received 8 yellow cards in his 20 appearances this season before his trip to Mestalla, most due to disagreement, and against Valencia he lost his cool again. After chants of ‘stupid’ and ‘beach ball’ [referencing the golden ball or Ballon d’Or] Throughout the match, Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski confronted him to demand that he stand up after falling in the area.
But Vinicius fell into the trap and put his hands in Dimitrievski’s face. After the VAR review, Vinicius was sent off. After Los Blancos emerged victorious thanks to a Jude Bellingham goal in stoppage time, Vinicius wrote “sorry and thanks team” on his X/Twitter account.
Sorry and thank you team!!!!! ✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾
—Vini Jr. (@vinijr) January 3, 2025
Coach Carlo Ancelotti called the sending off unfair and said Los Blancos would appeal, although he did not say why.