Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has issued an apology to Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior following an incident during their Spanish Super Cup semi-final last week.
According to BBC Sport on Monday, Simeone reportedly made comments from the touchline aimed at the 25-year-old Brazilian, suggesting that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez might be considering offloading him.
The Atletico boss also appeared to exchange words with Vinicius after the forward was substituted in the 81st minute of the 2-1 semi-final defeat.
“I would like to apologise to Mr Florentino and Mr Vinicius for the incident they witnessed. It was wrong of me to put myself in that position, and I accept that it was wrong. The team that wins deserves to go through; they deserved to go through,” Simeone said.
When asked if his behaviour had crossed a line, Simeone added: “I apologise, but I do not ask for forgiveness. I have nothing more to add.”
Vinicius, whose contract with Real Madrid runs until summer 2027, played a key role in the win that saw Real Madrid advance to the final, where they were eventually beaten 3-2 by Barcelona in Saudi Arabia.
The incident has sparked discussions about the intensity of Simeone’s touchline behavior and the high-pressure nature of matches between the Spanish capital rivals. While Simeone has publicly apologised, it remains to be seen whether the row will have any lasting impact on relations between the clubs or the players involved.
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