After the intense El Clasico match, former Real Madrid star Santiago Canizares openly criticized Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Junior for their arrogant attitude, claiming they cause more trouble than benefit for the team.
The recent El Clasico at Santiago Bernabéu ended with a 2-1 victory for Real Madrid, but its aftermath remains heated as former goalkeeper Santiago Canizares publicly condemned the young stars Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Junior. Speaking on the show Tiempo de Juego, Canizares stated that both showed "arrogance and lack of humility," which is detrimental to both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Canizares said: "We've talked a lot about football, but I want to emphasize the arrogance displayed by these two players – Lamine Yamal before the match and Vinicius during it. They bring nothing positive to their team." This comment quickly caught attention in the Spanish football community, especially since Yamal and Vinicius are young talents expected to become the new icons of La Liga.
The former Spanish goalkeeper continued: "They need to be reminded, but it seems no one in their club has the courage to do so. Reducing arrogance and learning humility are the improvements these two players should make." According to Canizares, the problem is that when a player is extremely talented, they are often "shielded" from criticism, which allows arrogance to develop easily. They attract attention more for off-field drama than for their efforts on the pitch.
He also mentioned Yamal’s case, saying Dani Carvajal’s reaction was understandable after the young player's controversial remarks before the match. Regarding Vinicius, Canizares commented: “He has not yet learned to be humble in victory and to calmly accept defeat.” During the game, he had some good plays, but overall, both caused more problems than benefits for the team."
These statements divided public opinion, with some agreeing that Yamal and Vinicius need to control their emotions to mature, while others believe their personality is what makes them stand out. After Canizares’ blunt warning, will these two young talents change how they present themselves on the field?