Mourinho says Vinicius missed Arsenal move as four‑match ban looms
Vinicius Junior faces a four‑match suspension that will see him miss next week’s El Clásico, and Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has used the ban to argue the winger should have taken Arsenal’s offer over the summer. The 26‑year‑old’s absence highlights the stark contrast between his current predicament and the opportunity he turned down.
During the transfer window, Vinicius was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, but he chose to sign a contract extension with Real Madrid instead. The decision kept him at the Spanish capital, where he has remained a key figure in the squad.
Manager’s candid reflections
“If I were in his position, I probably would not have stayed here,” Mourinho said, suggesting he would have forced a departure to a club that respects him. He added, “I would have forced the club to let me leave for a country where they respect me, but he has stayed because of his sense of belonging to Real Madrid and his love for the club.”
“He believes that things can improve, and that is why he keeps smiling,” Mourinho continued. “Nothing and no one can take that smile away from him. When he renewed his contract, he signed to say that Real Madrid is his home, and he had the enthusiasm to carry on making history and winning titles.”
Current form and suspension details
Vinicius has scored only one goal in his first ten appearances of the new campaign, while providing three assists. The red card for pulling Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba’s hair resulted in a two‑match ban for the incident and an additional two‑match ban for his furious reaction towards the referee, totalling four matches.
The suspension means he will miss the upcoming El Clásico away to Barcelona, as well as fixtures against Sevilla (home), Racing Santander (away) and Valencia (away). Mourinho expressed serious doubts that he would have had the same resolve to stay at Real Madrid if faced with the same offers that were on the table.
Photo by Vinicius Junior captured the winger’s summer speculation, underscoring how the Arsenal link remains a talking point despite his commitment to Real Madrid. Mourinho’s comments suggest the market context still sees the Brazilian as a coveted asset, even as his current challenges mount.