The Bernabéu turned on Vinicius, and what initially looked like just another night suddenly became something more. A clear before-and-after moment. Perhaps even a turning point. There had been isolated whistles in recent weeks, but this time it was different: loud, widespread, and impossible to ignore. When Vinicius was substituted, the stadium reacted decisively.

It happened in the 83rd minute. The fourth official raised the board showing number 7 in red. Vinicius, positioned on the far touchline, walked toward the center circle to hand the captain’s armband to Courtois, with Carvajal and Valverde absent. As he made that walk, the sound was constant and unmistakable: boos. A message from the stands, whether aimed at his performance, his attitude, or both.

Unlike previous episodes, Vinicius showed no reaction. Serious-faced, calm, and composed, he continued toward the bench without a single gesture. It was the opposite of what had been seen in the Clásico. There was even a brief hug with Xabi Alonso. Still, this moment felt different. The scattered whistles heard in recent matches had now become overwhelming and undeniable.

The response came after the final whistle. Once inside the locker room, Vinicius changed his profile picture. He removed the image of himself wearing the Real Madrid shirt and replaced it with one in Brazil’s colors. Shortly after, he posted a photo featuring the captain’s armband, accompanied only by three dots: “...”. A short, cryptic message. Open to interpretation.

An episode has ended, but it feels like the beginning of something much bigger. Vinicius is at a crossroads.

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