Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr has publicly apologized for his heated reaction after being substituted during Sunday’s intense 2-1 El Clasico victory over Barcelona. The Brazilian star, who played a pivotal role in the winning goal and relentlessly pressured Barcelona’s right-back Jules Koundé, was replaced by compatriot Rodrygo in the 71st minute. Despite his contributions, Vinicius expressed his frustration to manager Xabi Alonso before storming off to the dressing room, marring what should have been a jubilant moment for Real Madrid as they ended a four-game losing streak against their arch-rivals. In a statement shared on his social media accounts, Vinicius apologized to fans, teammates, and club president Florentino Pérez, attributing his outburst to his competitive passion. ‘Sometimes my passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team,’ he explained. Notably, his apology did not mention Alonso, with whom he has had a strained relationship since the manager took charge in May. Vinicius’ substitution has been a recurring theme this season, despite his effective partnership with forward Kylian Mbappé. The match ended in further controversy as Vinicius reemerged during a late-game altercation, arguing with Barcelona players before being escorted away. Real Madrid now lead LaLiga with 27 points, five ahead of second-placed Barcelona.