Mourinho says he would have forced a Real Madrid exit in Vinícius’s place

José Mourinho said he would have forced a move away from Real Madrid last summer if he were Vinícius Júnior, according to Calciomercato.com. The coach was expressing a personal view about the forward’s decision to stay, not announcing a transfer or identifying a move now being pursued.

Speaking at a press conference before Real Madrid’s game against Sevilla, Mourinho praised Vinícius but said he doubted he would have matched the Brazilian’s resolve. “If I were him, I probably wouldn’t be here,” Mourinho said. “Last summer I would have forced an exit to a club and a stadium that respected him.”

Mourinho said Vinícius renewed his commitment to Real Madrid because of his affection for the club and the city, and his belief that circumstances could improve. He described the forward as a popular presence in the dressing room, valued for his warmth and humour, and said he admired that Vinícius continued to smile through a difficult period. Mourinho also said the player had offers to consider.

The coach also defended Vinícius’s display against Roma, assigning responsibility for the difficult evening to Gian Piero Gasperini’s approach. Mourinho said Roma attacked down one side and put three men against Vinícius and Marc Cucurella. He singled out the second goal, arguing that it came during a calm, balanced spell and that Vinícius needed to keep possession or win a foul.

Mourinho said he had made five substitutions and pointed to the demands of the game, saying it is difficult to maintain full speed for all 90 minutes. On Vinícius’s four-match punishment, he said he was pleased because he had expected a longer sanction.

Mourinho’s next comment offered a possible marker for Vinícius’s immediate role: he said he thought the forward would start the next Wednesday’s Champions League match, while stressing that he was not promising it. He said Vinícius’s focus was on working harder than those who play every game.

Mourinho also declined to discuss La Liga president Javier Tebas’s recent comments in detail. He said there were limits to what he wanted to address, adding that Real Madrid supporters understood what the club was facing. Mourinho said protecting La Liga’s reputation abroad and keeping the issue in-house mattered.

His comments describe how he views Vinícius’s decision to stay and the forward’s current challenge at Real Madrid. They do not amount to news of a fresh exit attempt; the immediate question Mourinho raised was whether Vinícius would start in the Champions League.