Real Madrid fans booed the team and individual players such as Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham heavily ahead of them playing Levante, and also after kick off in the home La Liga clash, in the case of the mentioned first team stars.
Boos in the Bernabeu were first heard when Madrid’s underperforming first team went out to warm up ahead of the hosting of relegation-threatened Levante.
There were also jeers when Vinicius and Jude Bellingham’s names were read out for the line up over the tannoy.
Once the match then kicked off, swathes of supporters hissed and whistled Vinicius especially, as well as Jude Bellingham, whenever he received the ball.
At the time of publishing, around five minutes into the match, the frosty reception for Madrid’s stars continued.
Real Madrid stars being booed was expected in Spain and by the head coach
Such treatment in the Bernabeu had been expected at the end of a rough few days in Madrid.
First losing the Spanish Super Cup final to bitter rival FC Barcelona, which caused the dismissal of former head coach Xabi Alonso after just seven months, his replacement Alvaro Arbeloa then oversaw a “tragedy” at Albacete.
Against 17th placed, Second Division opposition, Real Madrid lost 3-2 and was knocked out of the last 16 of the Copa del Rey as a consequence.
This resulted in many corners expecting boos in the Bernabeu, and Alvaro anticipated it at his prematch press conference to preview the Levante tie.
“I respect the opinion of the Bernabeu a lot. I understand that Real Madrid fans are hurt and disappointed with us, but I’m going to ask them for support,” Arbeloa stated.
“In Real Madrid’s 123-year history, titles have been won when the Bernabeu has been with the players. Juanito said that: ‘90 minutes at the Bernabeu are molto longo’, when the Bernabeu is with our players. That’s what I’m going to ask of them,” he added.
Real Madrid fans’ anger at Bellingham and Vinicius is about more than performances
Los Blancos fans’ anger at the two players in question is about more than poor performances.
In Vinicius’ case, he’s dragging his feet on a contract extension, though Real Madrid is now confident he will sign on the dotted line given that Alonso, with whom he publicly clashed, is out of the way. As for Bellingham, Spanish Twitter is often awash with claims of him enjoying the party life too much, rather than focusing his energy on the pitch.
