Mourinho’s reduced minutes expose Vinicius’ waning role at Real Madrid
Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr., the 26‑year‑old star of Real Madrid, has seen his role shrink under manager Jose Mourinho, with his season minutes falling to just 801 and a suspension ruling him out of the forthcoming Valencia clash after a red card against Villarreal.
He has accumulated 801 minutes this season, a sharp drop from the 1,420 minutes recorded at the same stage of the 2024–25 campaign and the 1,284 minutes he logged last season. The reduction highlights a stark contrast with his previous status as an automatic starter.
Under Mourinho, Vinicius averages twelve minutes less per match than he did under Xabi Alonso during the 2025–26 season. This marginal drop further underscores the shift in Mourinho’s utilisation of the Brazilian.
The Brazilian will miss the upcoming match with Valencia, serving the final game of a four‑match ban imposed after his sending‑off against Villarreal. The ban will keep him out of another fixture before he can contest his place.
Mourinho has repeatedly stressed that selection will depend on performances, insisting players must earn their places on the pitch. He has made it clear that past reputation will not secure a spot.
When asked about Vinicius’ return, he said: “When [Vinicius] is back to normal and available, I’ll make my decision.” Mourinho made the comment when fielding questions about the forward’s future.
Competition from Diomande
Yan Diomande has established himself as a viable left‑wing option, giving Mourinho an alternative and increasing competition for Vinicius. His performances have earned him regular minutes on the left flank.
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The Ivorian’s emergence means the coach can now remove the Brazilian from the starting XI without it being seen as a major gamble. This flexibility allows Mourinho to rotate his attack without compromising results.
Although Vinicius still enjoys strong backing within the club, including from the manager, this does not translate into guaranteed minutes. Nevertheless, the manager’s recent line‑ups have shown a willingness to rotate.
Madrid thrive without Vinicius
Real Madrid produced a convincing 4‑1 victory over Sevilla, registering fifteen shots in the match. The win demonstrated the squad’s ability to create chances without relying on Vinicius.
They then secured a 2‑1 win at Camp Nou against Barcelona. Scoring at the iconic stadium further proved their depth.
The following 3‑0 triumph over Racing Santander featured twenty‑two attempts on goal. The dominant display reinforced the team’s attacking versatility.
Collective attacking shift
These results suggest Mourinho is building a more collective attacking structure, with contributions from Diomande, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, the latter appearing to have better chemistry with Diomande than with Vinicius. Mbappe’s partnership with Diomande has become a focal point of the side’s forward play.
Vinicius still possesses pace, dribbling and chance‑creation ability, but the team’s strong performances in his absence weaken the argument that he must always start. If he wishes to reclaim a regular place, he must outperform the alternatives in training and matches.