Real Madrid is set to face Athletic Club in their concluding fixture of what has been a highly disappointing 2025-26 season. Having already surrendered the La Liga title to their fierce rivals Barcelona, Alvaro Arbeloa’s squad has little at stake for this upcoming match, which will undoubtedly influence the team selection at the Bernabeu.
Several players, including Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Arda Guler, and Rodrygo Goes, are unavailable due to injury. Furthermore, Dani Ceballos will likely remain sidelined by Arbeloa. Adding to this list, a notable absence will be Vinicius Junior.
According to Cadena SER, Vinicius will not be part of the matchday squad for the game against Athletic. Reports suggest that the Brazilian winger requested to be excused from selection, a request that Real Madrid’s head coach has reportedly approved.
This season has been a grueling one for Vinicius, who has participated in 53 matches across all competitions, in addition to his six appearances in last summer’s Club World Cup. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, and considering the demanding schedule, the decision has been made to make him unavailable for Saturday’s match at the Bernabeu.
Could this be Vinicius’s final Real Madrid appearance?
It’s important to note that Real Madrid has not yet finalized a new contract with Vinicius, whose current deal expires in 2027. Consequently, his future at the club remains uncertain, despite general expectations that an agreement will be reached in the coming weeks.
Reports indicate that Vinicius desires significant changes within Real Madrid before committing to a new contract, and it remains to be seen if these demands will be met.
