‘Your temper is hurting you’ – Brazilian-Cameroonian star Vinicius Junior warned by ex-mentor Reinaldo

Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda has urged Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior to rein in his emotions, saying the forward’s recent outburst “hurt” him deeply.

Rueda, who coached the attacker during his early days at Flamengo, described the Real Madrid firebrand as a “noble man” but admitted disappointment over his behaviour in the recent El Clásico.

Vinicius Junior, who has Cameroonian heritage, has been under scrutiny for his frequent on-field confrontations and fiery temperament.

Rueda, reflecting on their shared past, said his bond with the player remains strong but insisted that maturity must now guide his actions.

“I’m very fond of him, and I think the feeling is mutual. Coaching him is one of the gifts football has given me,” he told AS.

The Colombian tactician said Vinicius’s emotional reaction against Barcelona showed a worrying lack of control.

“His attitude in the Clásico surprised me a lot. He’s a good guy, and that behavior was strange to me. It hurt me a lot.

“He showed a great lack of mental and emotional control,” Rueda remarked, adding that he has seen similar moments before that ended badly for players who failed to change.

When reminded that the winger is now 25 years old, Rueda responded that Vinicius should know better.

“He was betrayed by the emotion of the moment. He’s under immense pressure, which he puts on himself, but he can’t act like this at this stage,” he warned.

Rueda also commended Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso for his calm handling of the incident, saying the Spaniard’s restraint prevented the situation from escalating.

“He handled it very intelligently to avoid further problems,” he noted.

The veteran coach concluded that Vinicius must embrace his leadership role responsibly, stressing that such outbursts set a poor example for younger players who look up to him.