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Real Madrid response to Vinícius Júnior treatment

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2026-09-11 13:55 UTC → 2026-09-11 14:29 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Real Madrid manager José Mourinho continues to advocate for increased protection for Vinícius Júnior, arguing the winger is being unfairly targeted by both opponents and fans. Mourinho maintains that referees are failing to intervene early enough to prevent physical and verbal aggression, a sentiment supported by club data suggesting Vinícius requires significantly more fouls to receive a yellow card than other top players like Lamine Yamal. Despite his contract extension through 2032, scrutiny has intensified regarding the player’s declining on-field impact. Journalist Miguel Serrano has criticized Vinícius’s performance, noting a decrease in sprinting and dribbling efficiency, while suggesting Mourinho should stop treating certain players as ‘untouchables’. Tensions between the player and supporters resurfaced during a 2-1 Champions League victory against Inter Milan, where Vinícius was met with jeers from the Santiago Bernabéu crowd. Following ~~recent criticism and fan dissatisfaction,~~ this criticism, Mourinho has doubled down on his support. Ahead of a match against Rayo Vallecano, he used a Portuguese proverb to contextualize the scrutiny, stating, “People only throw stones at trees that bear fruit,” referencing the player’s history of winning multiple Champions League titles. While acknowledging that Vinícius has not yet reached his peak form, Mourinho highlighted improvements in defensive statistics, such as ball recoveries. Addressing the tactical balance of a star-studded attack including Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, Mourinho praised Mbappé’s defensive work rate. This comes amid previous reports of internal friction regarding the tactical freedom granted to other players and Vinícius’s perceived desire for similar defensive privileges.

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