Mourinho urges 'bullied' Vinicius Jr to control emotions when being provoked
August 23, 2026 13:40
Real Madrid manager José Mourinho, 63, said winger Vinicius Jr is frequently provoked by opponents and sometimes by the crowd, and urged the Brazil international to exercise "great emotional control" when targeted. The comments followed Vinicius receiving a yellow card for an on‑field argument with Espanyol midfielder Cala during Real's 2-1 La Liga opening win.
Mourinho, speaking after his first competitive match back in charge of Real Madrid, said he had warned Vinicius at half‑time to be careful about his reactions — including how he celebrates — to avoid further bookings and maintain his place on the pitch.
KEY CONTEXT
- Vinicius has been at Real Madrid since 2018 and, according to Mourinho, has faced regular abuse across his eight years at the club.
- Mourinho said opponents aim to provoke Vinicius "from the first minute" and that such targeting is repeated by the teams he faces.
- The manager recalled a previous episode when Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racially abusing Vinicius on a night Mourinho was in the Benfica dugout; the Argentine denied that allegation.
- Mourinho acknowledged that he had previously been critical of Vinicius when an opponent but is now defending him as his player.
WHY IT MATTERS
Discipline and composure are tangible issues for Real Madrid if an influential attacking player is being provoked and picks up avoidable bookings. Mourinho frames this as a recurring problem that can affect both match outcomes and how players are managed during games — for example by advising the player to moderate goal celebrations to avoid dismissal.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether Vinicius can curb reactions and avoid further cautions under Mourinho's guidance.
- How opponents approach marking and attempting to provoke Vinicius in upcoming matches, and whether the pattern Mourinho describes continues.
- How Mourinho and the club address what he describes as repeated targeting — whether through coaching emphasis on emotional control or other measures.
KEY FACTS
- Mourinho is 63 and was speaking after his first competitive match back at Real Madrid.
- Vinicius picked up a yellow card in the 2-1 La Liga opening win over Espanyol after an argument with Cala.
- Vinicius joined Real Madrid in 2018 and has been at the club for eight years.
- Mourinho said Vinicius is repeatedly targeted by opponents and sometimes by the crowd.
- Gianluca Prestianni was previously accused of racially abusing Vinicius; that claim was denied by Prestianni.