Out-of-favour Real Madrid defender refuses to give up despite poor comeback

Jesus Vallejo made his first Real Madrid appearance in 541 days when he appeared as a substitute against Deportivo Alaves on Tuesday.

The defender came on as an 80th-minute substitute for Eder Militao, with the scoreline firmly tilted in Real Madrid’s favour at 3-0.

However, just five minutes after he came on, Alaves were able to pull one back through Carlos Benavidez. A minute later, Alaves scored again through Kike Garcia, making it 3-2.

Thanks to these back-to-back goals, Vallejo received a cold reception even from Real Madrid fans, with many urging Carlo Ancelotti to sub off the defender.

Vallejo remains steadfast

However, despite the rocky return, Vallejo remains determined to prove himself at Real Madrid and is not ready to lose hope just yet, reports Diario AS.

The game against Alaves wasn’t easy, and Vallejo looked rusty, which is understandable given his lack of match fitness.

His misjudgments were costly, especially on Garcia’s goal, where he failed to close down the forward. Yet, Vallejo knows that these few minutes are golden in his fight to remain a part of the squad.

Internally, the club holds him in high regard, praising his professionalism and attitude. Despite limited opportunities, Vallejo has not given up on his dream.

The 26-year-old has spent years battling for his place at the club, dealing with injuries, loan spells, and stiff competition from a stacked Real Madrid defence.

His decision to stay and see out his contract in June 2025 reflects his deep commitment to the club, despite being far down in Ancelotti’s defensive pecking order.

Whether this performance offers him more minutes remains uncertain, but Vallejo refuses to give up just yet.