Mourinho: I’d have left Real Madrid if I were Vinicius Jr

Jose Mourinho has said he would have forced an exit from Real Madrid last summer if he were Vinicius Junior, citing the repeated abuse the Brazilian winger has endured from opposition supporters.

Vinicius has faced regular racist abuse since joining Madrid in 2018. He was also sent off during the club’s win over Villarreal last weekend for pulling an opponent’s hair and received a four-match suspension, ruling him out of the Clasico against Barcelona on October 25.

“He’s a fantastic boy; tremendous credit to him for the fact that he keeps living and surviving and still having a smile,” Mourinho told reporters.

“If it were me in his place, probably I wouldn’t be here. In this last summer I would have forced an exit to a league, a country, or somewhere some rival clubs and stadiums respect him.”

Vinicius, however, signed a new contract with Real Madrid in the summer, extending his stay at the club until 2032.

Mourinho said the Brazilian’s loyalty to Real Madrid and his belief that the situation could improve influenced his decision to stay.

“Because he loves Real Madrid, for loving the club and the city, for believing that things can always improve, he renewed his contract, and he keeps on smiling,” Mourinho said.

“No one or nobody can, well, influence him negatively, yes, because he’s human, but take away his joy of living and working and being with his teammates, no, no one can do that.”

Mourinho substituted Vinicius during Madrid’s 4-3 Champions League win at Roma on Wednesday, with the winger still working to regain the form that helped him win the competition twice under Carlo Ancelotti.

The manager also welcomed the length of Vinicius’s suspension, saying he had feared that figures within the Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee might impose an additional one or two matches.

Real Madrid face Sevilla on Sunday as they seek to avoid falling further behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, who visit Real Betis on Saturday. Barcelona have won all their league matches this season and hold a six-point lead over fourth-placed Real Madrid.