Hostile cheers meet captaincy: Vinicius Jr’s turbulent Riazor debut

Vinicius Jr made his first start of Real Madrid’s pre‑season in a 1‑0 win over Deportivo La Coruña at Riazor, yet every touch was met with boos from a vocal section of the home crowd, highlighting a stark contrast between his captaincy and the hostile reception.

The Brazilian was handed the captain’s armband for the Teresa Herrera Trophy clash, marking his inaugural appearance at Deportivo’s ground and his return to the starting XI in the pre‑season fixture.

Supporters at Riazor directed boos at Vinicius for each ball he touched, a reaction the Brazilian is no stranger to when playing away from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Endrick and left‑back Alvaro Carreras also faced whistles, their targeting linked to incidents involving players from Antonio Hidalgo’s side during the match.

Responsibility and tactical role

Real Madrid manager Mourinho placed considerable responsibility on Vinicius, who captained the side and was heavily involved in the team’s attacking build‑up, with clear instructions to look for him as an outlet.

Vinicius frequently dropped into deeper positions to receive the ball and help progress play, though a lack of competitive rhythm was evident in his first pre‑season start.

A misplaced pass allowed Deportivo to launch a counter‑attack through Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, who found himself isolated as the home side pressed forward.

Impact on teammates

Although Vinicius did not score, his involvement created space for teammates, notably Alvaro Carreras, who used the Brazilian’s passes to reach promising areas and trouble the Deportivo defence with several crosses.

The emerging understanding between Vinicius and Carreras could become a valuable feature for Real Madrid if Mourinho continues to build attacks through the left side.

Both Vinicius and Carreras received boos from sections of the Riazor crowd, and Endrick was also targeted during the match, underscoring the mixed atmosphere surrounding Real Madrid’s pre‑season performance.