Everyone is different - Alonso clarifies Vinicius Jr. benching

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has moved to clarify his decision-making process after leaving superstar forward Vinicius Jr. on the bench for Sunday's comfortable 3-0 league win against Real Oviedo.

The surprise omission from the starting XI had raised eyebrows, but Alonso insists it was a choice made purely for the good of the team.

The Brazilian’s absence from the starting lineup was a rare sight, and it fueled speculation, particularly given reports that he had recently rejected a new contract offer from the club.

However, Alonso addressed the matter directly in his post-match press conference, explaining that such decisions are tactical.

"Everyone is different, and you have to demand respect, and the relationship is a little different," Alonso said.

He continued, "In football, decisions are made with the team in mind; you have to understand things, and that was the case today."

Despite starting as a substitute, Vinicius made a decisive impact when he entered the game, coming on to score the final goal in the 90th minute, adding to a brace from Kylian Mbappe.

His performance validated Alonso’s stance that a strong squad is essential for success.

Alonso added, "The substitutions from game to game depend on what we need in terms of workload and opponent. I haven't made any decisions for next month.

"It's important for people to feel important, ready, and ready for the next game. It's important to maintain a stable performance as a team. It was a game to see that we continue to grow."

The victory over Real Oviedo maintains Real Madrid's perfect start to the La Liga campaign, with two wins from two matches.

They currently sit third in the table behind Villarreal and Barcelona on goal difference.