If I were Vinicius, I’d have forced move away from Real Madrid — Mourinho

Abdullateef Fowewe

Real Madrid manager, José Mourinho has praised Vinicius Junior’s loyalty and mental strength, saying he would probably have left the club himself if he faced the same treatment.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Sevilla on Saturday, Mourinho said, “If it were me in his place, probably I wouldn’t be here. In this last summer I would have forced an exit to a league, a country, to somewhere there are rival clubs and stadiums that respect him.”

He added that the Brazilian stayed “because he loves Real Madrid, for loving the club and the city, for believing that things can always improve,” renewed his contract, and “keeps on smiling.”

Mourinho described Vinicius as “a spectacular kid” and “a fantastic boy,” noting he values him “tremendously” for managing “to get by, to survive, with a smile on his face.”

The comments come after Vinicius received a four-match ban for a red card against Villarreal, which will see him miss the upcoming Clásico against Barcelona.

Mourinho said he was “actually pleased” with the length of the suspension, having expected authorities might add extra games.

Vinicius, 26, has been a repeated target of racist abuse from opposition fans across Spanish stadiums since joining Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2018.

La Liga has documented numerous incidents over the years, including monkey chants, insults, and other forms of discrimination at multiple grounds.

Despite this, and periods of fluctuating form this season, he signed a new deal running until 2032 earlier this year after interest from clubs including Arsenal.

Mourinho, who returned for a second spell as Real Madrid coach in 2026, has publicly backed the player and previously encouraged him to stay.

Mourinho highlighted Vinicius’s positive influence in the dressing room and said no one can take away his joy of living and working with his teammates.