Key Takeaways:
- Diego Simeone apologised to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Florentino Perez after their Super Cup semi-final last Thursday
- Vinicius Junior, under contract with Real Madrid until summer 2027, contributed to his side’s 2-1 win over Atletico in the semi-final
- Real Madrid subsequently lost 3-2 to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia
Background to the Apology
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has issued an apology to Vinicius Junior after a touchline altercation during the Spanish Super Cup semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. The incident, which took place last Thursday, saw Simeone direct comments towards the 25-year-old Brazilian international, reportedly suggesting to Vinicius that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez would consider selling him.
🚨🇦🇷 Diego Simeone apologises to Vinicius and Florentino Perez.
Question: "What did you think of last night's Spanish Super Cup final?"
Simeone: "First of all, I’d like to apologize to Florentino Pérez and Vinícius for the incident the other day. It wasn’t right, and that’s why… pic.twitter.com/izV6ra34px
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) January 12, 2026
Match Context and Player Involvement
Vinicius Junior played a key role in Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid, which earned the club a place in the Super Cup final. His current contract with the Spanish giants runs until the summer of 2027, highlighting his long-term importance to the team. However, Real Madrid were ultimately defeated 3-2 by Barcelona in the final, held in Saudi Arabia.
Simeone’s Response and Acknowledgment
Simeone addressed the incident by stating, “I would like to apologise to Mr Florentino and Mr Vinicius for the incident they witnessed,” acknowledging his error in judgement. He further commented, “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.”
During the match, Simeone reportedly exchanged additional words with Vinicius when the winger was substituted in the 81st minute. When questioned about whether his actions overstepped the mark, Simeone replied, “I apologise, but I do not ask for forgiveness. I have nothing more to add.”
