Vinicius Misses Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao Match with Club Permission

G. E (Elbotola)

22 May 2026at09:30

Real Madrid's technical staff member, Álvaro Arbeloa, confirmed that Brazilian player Vinicius Jr. will miss the team's upcoming match against Athletic Bilbao next Saturday. Arbeloa stated on Friday that the player received official permission from the club's management to attend to a personal matter, preventing his inclusion in the squad list for the game.

These developments come as reports from Ok Diario suggested that Vinicius had requested several days of rest before the 2026 World Cup, aiming to physically prepare himself for the upcoming global tournament. In this context, Álvaro Arbeloa said, "He has received permission from the club due to a personal matter, and we do not know if he can play tomorrow," clarifying the nature of the Brazilian star's absence from his club's immediate preparations.

Despite this significant absence in the attacking line, Real Madrid will rely on other offensive options to compensate for the player's unavailability, most notably French forward Kylian Mbappé. The capital club aims to maintain its technical balance against Bilbao, depending on the readiness of the remaining key players in the squad who will participate in the match in the absence of one of the team's most prominent playmakers.

Q&A

What is the reason for Vinicius Jr.'s absence from Real Madrid's upcoming match?

Vinicius Jr. will miss Real Madrid's match against Athletic Bilbao after receiving official club permission to attend to a personal matter. This prevents his inclusion in the squad list for the upcoming game.

How will Vinicius Jr.'s absence affect Real Madrid's attacking line against Athletic Bilbao?

Vinicius Jr.'s absence means Real Madrid will rely on other offensive options to maintain technical balance against Bilbao. The team plans to compensate for his unavailability by depending on the readiness of remaining key players in the squad.

Why might Vinicius Jr. have requested time off from Real Madrid before the match?

Reports from Ok Diario suggest Vinicius Jr. requested several days of rest before the 2026 World Cup. He aims to physically prepare himself for the upcoming global tournament, which could be the underlying reason for his club permission.