Vinicius Junior tallied 22 goals for Real Madrid across all competitions this past season.
The return of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid was always destined to spark considerable discussion. Among the myriad of questions surrounding his reappointment, the management of his relationship with Vinicius Junior stands out prominently.
This dynamic will be a focal point during Mourinho’s second tenure at the Bernabeu.
Mourinho has inked a three-year deal to rejoin Real, contingent upon current president Florentino Perez winning the presidential election scheduled for June 7.
The Portuguese manager was at the helm of Benfica when they faced Real in the Champions League back in February.
Following the first leg of the knockout phase play-off, Mourinho faced scrutiny for comments he made concerning Vinicius Jr.’s behavior. The Brazilian forward had alleged that Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni directed racial abuse towards him, an accusation Prestianni vehemently denied.
Mourinho is now tasked with coaching not only one of the most gifted players in football but also one of the most intensely scrutinized athletes globally.
His managerial success has often hinged on fostering trust, loyalty, and strong connections with his players. However, his rapport with Vinicius could become a defining element of this second chapter.
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During the aforementioned Champions League match in February, Vinicius put Real Madrid ahead with a second-half goal but subsequently received a booking for excessive celebration, involving dancing near the corner flag.
Shortly thereafter, following an interaction with Prestianni, the Brazilian approached the referee, gesturing towards the Benfica winger.
The referee then made the crossed arms gesture, signaling a report of racist abuse and activating UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, which halted play for nearly 10 minutes as tensions escalated within the stadium. Vinicius and some of his teammates temporarily left the pitch.
A statement from Real Madrid indicated that Vinicius told the referee he had been racially abused by the Argentinian winger – a claim Prestianni refuted.
This led to UEFA suspending the Benfica player for the second leg while launching an investigation.
Prestianni ultimately received a six-match ban, albeit not for racist abuse, as UEFA cited insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation.
Instead, the punishment stemmed from a homophobic insult, which Prestianni admitted to directing at Vinicius.
Mourinho was observed speaking with Vinicius after the player left the field following his interaction with Prestianni.
However, Mourinho’s post-match comments garnered significant attention.
While publicly supporting Prestianni, Mourinho suggested that Vinicius had instigated tensions through his goal celebration in front of the home crowd.
“You score a goal from another world, why celebrate like that?” Mourinho questioned.
“The same thing always happens in so many stadiums. In how many states has this happened? In how many stadiums? How many? How many?
“He’s an out-of-this-world player, I love him. Vinicius tells me one thing and Prestianni tells me another. I want to be balanced.”
These remarks drew widespread criticism, with many accusing Mourinho of diverting attention from the racism allegations and, instead, placing blame on the victim.
In addition to stating his belief that Vinicius had been disrespectful with his goal celebration, he cited the club’s legendary striker Eusebio as evidence that Benfica is not a racist club.
When asked if he felt Vinicius incited the crowd, Mourinho responded: “Yes. I believe so.
“It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal. Unfortunately [he was] not just happy to score that astonishing goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way.”
He further added: “When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person in the history of this club [Eusebio] was black.
“This club, the last thing that it is, is racist. They [Vinicius and Prestianni] told me different things. But I don’t believe in one or another. I want to be an independent.”
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Mourinho’s comments received heavy criticism from global media outlets.
Former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf stated at the time: “I think he [Mourinho] is still emotional. He’s saying it’s OK, when Vinicius provokes you, to be racist – and I think that is very wrong.
“We should never, ever justify racial abuse. Vinicius has had enough of that unjustified behaviour from people. I know Mourinho by heart would agree with me but he expressed himself a bit unfortunately.”
Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott concurred, saying: “I love everything Jose Mourinho has done in football but he has made a poor decision. It was maybe the one time we shouldn’t have heard from him, the one night he should not have been in front of the cameras.”
Later that evening, Vinicius posted a statement on Instagram condemning both the incident and the handling of it.
“Racists are, above all, cowards,” he wrote. “They need to hide behind others to show how weak they are.
“Nothing that happened today is new in my life or my team’s life.”
Vinicius’ future with Real Madrid remains uncertain, though there are indications he desires to stay.
Although his contract extends until 2027, renewal talks have reportedly slowed due to disagreements regarding wages and his standing within the club.
The 25-year-old reportedly seeks recognition as Los Blancos’ top star financially, particularly after being instrumental for the team for years preceding the arrival of Kylian Mbappe.
Real Madrid, however, are traditionally known for maintaining a strict salary structure under president Florentino Perez.
Despite this underlying tension, Vinicius has publicly described Madrid as “the club of my dreams” and expressed his hope to remain there “for many years”.
A successful World Cup campaign with Brazil this summer could bolster his team’s negotiating position with Real Madrid.
Ultimately, the relationship between Vinicius and Mourinho could prove decisive in shaping his long-term future.
A strong relationship, a clear shared vision, and unwavering support – especially in the face of any future allegations or incidents of racism – may be crucial in persuading the Brazilian star to extend his stay beyond 2027.
With expectations running high both on and off the pitch, the upcoming season will play a defining role in determining whether Vinicius commits his future to the club.
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