Real Madrid youth coach and former player Alvaro Arbeloa has made public comments questioning manager Carlo Ancelotti's handling of Vinicius Junior's fitness. The remarks came after the Brazilian winger returned from international duty, where he played significant minutes in friendlies for Brazil in late March 2026.
Vinicius featured for the full 90 minutes in Brazil's 2-1 defeat to France on March 26 and played 67 minutes in a subsequent 3-3 draw with Croatia on March 29. His physical condition upon returning to club training has become a topic of discussion within the Spanish media.
In comments reported by outlets including Marca, Arbeloa, who described Ancelotti as a "friend," suggested the manager should have managed the player's minutes differently upon his return. "When a player comes back tired, maybe you don't have to play him from the start," Arbeloa stated, indirectly referencing Vinicius's situation.
Ancelotti has not publicly responded to Arbeloa's comments. Real Madrid are preparing for a crucial period in their season as they compete for the La Liga title and the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League.
