Mourinho Says He Would Have Left Real Madrid if He Were Vinicius Junior

Posted : 17 October 2026

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has said he would have considered leaving the Spanish giants if he were Vinicius Junior, citing the repeated abuse the Brazilian winger has faced since joining the club.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Mourinho praised Vinicius for maintaining a positive attitude despite being targeted by opposition supporters and subjected to racist abuse over the years. The Portuguese coach said he would have pushed for a move to another country or league where rival fans and stadiums would treat him with greater respect.

Vinicius, who joined Real Madrid in 2018, committed his future to the club by signing a contract extension that runs until 2032. Mourinho believes the forward's loyalty reflects his affection for Madrid, the city and his belief that circumstances can improve.

The Brazilian's immediate future at the club has become a talking point after he received a four-match suspension following his dismissal during Real Madrid's 1-0 LaLiga victory over Villarreal. The punishment rules him out of the Clasico against Barcelona on October 25, dealing a potential blow to Madrid's attacking plans.

Mourinho also expressed surprise that the suspension was not more severe, suggesting he had expected the Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee to impose an even longer ban.

The manager substituted Vinicius during Real Madrid's dramatic 4-3 Champions League victory over Roma on Wednesday. The winger has been working to rediscover the form that helped him win the Champions League twice under former Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Questions also remain about how Mourinho can fit Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham into the same attacking setup while maintaining the team's overall balance.

Real Madrid face Sevilla on Sunday as they attempt to keep pace with LaLiga leaders Barcelona. Hansi Flick's side have won all their matches this season and hold a six-point advantage over Madrid, who are fourth in the standings.

The build-up to the weekend's fixtures has also been overshadowed by a dispute between Real Madrid and LaLiga president Javier Tebas. Madrid called for Tebas to resign after he compared the club's efforts to undermine confidence in referees with propaganda techniques associated with Nazi official Joseph Goebbels. Tebas later clarified that his comments referred to propaganda methods rather than Nazi ideology.

Mourinho declined to discuss the dispute in detail but said there were limits to what could be excused. He added that protecting Spanish football's international reputation should be a priority, urging those involved to avoid allowing the controversy to damage the league's standing abroad.

Mourinho Says He Would Have Left Real Madrid if He Were Vinicius Junior

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