Vinicius on Alonso Rift and Madrid Loyalty Before Bayern Tie

Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid's star winger, opened up about his strained relationship with former manager Xabi Alonso and his renewed commitment to the club ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 25-year-old Brazilian, speaking at a press conference on Monday, explained his decision not to publicly bid farewell to Alonso, who was sacked in January after a turbulent six-month stint. Alonso had replaced Carlo Ancelotti last summer but struggled to manage the squad's dynamics, leading to internal tensions. Vinicius described the period as challenging, citing limited playing time and a lack of personal connection. "Every coach has their own things, and maybe we did not connect well," he said. "It was a difficult moment because I was playing for a few minutes. I learned a lot, I reflected, and I have improved now."

The friction peaked during an October El Clasico victory over Barcelona, when Vinicius reacted angrily to being substituted while Madrid led 2-1. He stormed off the pitch, later apologizing for his outburst. "It wasn't a pleasant moment, and I apologized to everyone," Vinicius reflected. "I like to...