Vinicius Jr. and the Real Madrid dressing room are becoming more tense

Real Madrid secured a stunning 3-2 victory over Leganés in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, narrowly avoiding an upset.

Despite having a bright start with to goals from Luka Modric and Endrick, Madrid faltered as Leganés rallied with two goals from Juan Cruz. The game appeared to be going into extra time until teenager Gonzalo Garcia scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time.

Vinicius Jr. and Luka Modric’s on-field altercation, however, became a significant talking topic after the tense encounter. The Croatian veteran, who was annoyed by Vinicius’ lack of defensive effort, did not mince words and publicly criticized his teammate’s inaction, particularly after a counterattack by Leganés. Spanish media swiftly reported on the exchange, pointing out the Madrid team’s mounting annoyance with the Brazilian’s demeanor.

Senior players have reportedly previously criticized Vinicius for his angry outbursts and defensive carelessness. According to reports, Fede Valverde expressed his disapproval and echoed Modric’s admonition. The incident came after Vinicius’ recent red card against Valencia and other problems over his behavior.

Although the dressing room acknowledges his talent, greater dedication and discipline are obviously expected. After the game, Modric played down the altercation by saying, “It’s just football,” and coach Carlo Ancelotti backed his captain’s position with succinct remarks. Even while the matter seems to have been settled in public, the underlying tension suggests that there are more serious grievances within the Madrid camp.