José Mourinho defends Vinícius Júnior against allegations of bullying

Following Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Espanyol, manager José Mourinho has publicly condemned the treatment of winger Vinícius Júnior, describing it as “bullying” by opposing players and fans.

Mourinho noted that the Brazilian forward appears to be targeted by a coordinated effort from opponents to provoke him, stating, “He suffers bullying from rival teams and their fans.” The manager highlighted a pattern where players seem to take turns committing fouls or provocations against the winger. During the match, Vinícius was involved in several heated exchanges and received multiple challenges, including a notable kick from Espanyol’s Cala that did not result in a booking.

Real Madrid’s official television channel also criticized the officiating, arguing that the referees were “extremely lenient with the violent fouls committed by Espanyol players.”

Mourinho’s defense of Vinícius has drawn comparisons to his previous stance when coaching Benfica, where he had criticized the player’s celebrations following an incident involving alleged racial insults. Addressing this shift, Mourinho remarked, “I risk being quoted from times when I was Vini's opponent. Now, Vini is on my side.”