Mourinho warns: Without respect, he would have driven Vinicius out of Madrid

In the Sevilla press room, shortly before the La Liga duel against Sevilla FC, José Mourinho put his offensive star Vinicius Junior in the spotlight. The Brazilian, suspended for four league matches after a red card against Villarreal FC, will therefore miss the upcoming Clásico against FC Barcelona.

Four‑match ban after red‑card incident

Vinicius Junior pulled Nathan Saliba’s hair in the 1‑0 win over Villarreal, prompting the VAR to intervene and the Brazilian to be sent off. The red card resulted in a two‑match ban for the incident itself and an additional two matches for his behavior after the dismissal. Real Madrid lodged an unsuccessful appeal, meaning Vinicius will miss the games against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia.

Mourinho's personal assessment

At the press conference before the Sevilla match, Mourinho praised the 26‑year‑old player as a “fantastic boy” and emphasized his ability to smile despite the difficult environment. “If I were in his shoes, I probably wouldn’t be here. I would have forced a move to a country where he is respected,” the Portuguese coach said.

Mourinho added that Vinicius stayed out of loyalty to Real Madrid and love for the club. The coach believed the Brazilian’s situation could improve, and praised his psychological strength.

The coach also reminded that Vinicius signed a new contract in August lasting until 2032. “When he signed the contract, he did so because Madrid is his home,” Mourinho emphasized.

Vinicius has maintained his positive attitude despite criticism and repeated racist abuse. Mourinho described him as one of the main sources of joy in the dressing room and highlighted that he believes in the player’s long‑term future at Real Madrid.