Cañizares reveals the episode that ended the great Vinícius: 'He's now expendable'

The name Vinícius is one of the most repeated during the 24/25 season. Not only because of the recent instability surrounding his contract renewal, an agreement that is further than ever from coming to fruition. His performance during the 24/25 campaign has fallen well short of expectations.

Not many seem to guess a clear cause for that notable drop suffered by the "verdeamarelo" number 7, until then one of the best footballing assets of the first white team. Not even the arrival of Xabi Alonso, as seemed to be on the competitive horizon, has so far managed to rescue the best version of Vinícius.

The analysis of what happened during the long past soccer season has left several opinions, in which people try to find out what event disrupted the high pace shown by Vinícius Jr. Santiago Cañizares doesn't seem to have any doubts: "I think the Ballon d'Or situation caused Vinícius's performance to drop a lot". The defeat in that individual award, according to the former goalkeeper, would have been decisive.

When it seemed that the Real Madrid footballer would receive recognition for an exceptional campaign, Rodrigo Hernández was chosen. The decision of the 2024 edition of the award organized by UEFA and France Football sparked multiple reactions, including a comment in which Vinícius assured that he would surpass himself... which has not yet happened and generates hundreds of comments after each inconsistent performance by the South American footballer.

Turning point

The drop in Vinícius's performance could be explained, Santiago Cañizares argues, by the unexpected failure to win the Ballon d'Or. After all, it has always been one of the great aspirations of the "verdeamarelo" footballer, so that unexpected defeat would have affected him much more than it might seem.

The consequences of that event that took place in October 2024 have caused a very striking change in Vinícius. The striker from São Gonçalo is no longer the most decisive footballer in Europe, a change that has caused notable discontent among many Madridists. The same goes for some of his attitudes during the 24/25 season.

"That has made him, right now, expendable for Madridists", warns the former Valencia and Real Madrid goalkeeper. Santiago Cañizares's words seem to find their echo in the reactions of many white fans after the Club World Cup, a competition that has singled him out in more than one way.

Not only because of a performance that has not improved under Xabi Alonso's management. The Tolosa coach slightly distrusts the defensive work rate and collective commitment of the white number 7, a situation that is already known to the white leadership... and that has altered the pace of his renewal, desired until the summer of 2030 by the merengue bosses.