Mourinho's Key Message to Vinicius Jr: Staying at Real Madrid is Worth It
Jose Mourinho has revealed the simple – and blunt – message he used to help convince Vinicius Jr to stay at Real Madrid: leaving, he told him, “is not worth it.”
The Brazilian forward, 26, had entered the final year of his contract at the Bernabeu, a situation that briefly opened the door to a potential free transfer next summer and alerted clubs across Europe. Arsenal, fresh from a Premier League title, were among those closely watching as negotiations dragged on.
The saga never reached full crisis mode. Earlier this month, Vinicius signed a new six-year deal, tying one of the game’s most devastating wingers to Madrid long term. Mourinho, back at Real for a second spell as head coach after his return was confirmed in June, has now spoken openly about the role he played in that decision.
“Vinicius has fallen in love with Real Madrid,” Mourinho told Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, before lifting the lid on their conversation.
“The only thing I told him was: ‘Vini, where do you want to go? You’ve only been in Brazil and you only know Real Madrid. You only understand Real Madrid when you leave. When you leave that’s when you realise what Real Madrid is. Don’t leave. It’s not worth it.’”
For Mourinho, the emotional connection between player and club mattered as much as the sporting project. He pointed to the atmosphere inside the squad and the work on the training ground as key factors in Vinicius’ final call.
“I think what he has felt in terms of the group’s growth, the way we’ve been working and developing, has given him a very important feeling,” he said.
Mourinho knows Vinicius from the opposite technical area as well. Last season, while in charge of Benfica, he faced Real three times in the Champions League. Their second meeting, the first leg of a knockout play-off, was overshadowed by controversy.
During that game, Real players alleged that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni racially abused Vinicius, prompting the match to be halted for around eight minutes. Prestianni denied the accusations, and Mourinho publicly backed his own player at the time.
Uefa later investigated and issued a three-match ban to Prestianni for homophobic conduct, with a further three games suspended.
Looking back on the incident, Mourinho underlined where his loyalties lay that night – and how the dynamic has shifted now that he is responsible for Vinicius in Madrid.
“Prestianni was my player. That’s it. There’s no debate,” he said. “If Prestianni is my player, 20 players can come at me and I’m still with Prestianni. End of story.”
The Portuguese coach then turned the focus to his new relationship with Vinicius, stressing that the forward now has his full backing.
“I think Vini now knows what side I am now on and knows he can look me in the eye and rely on me to be on his side.”
From persuading him to stay to promising to stand beside him, Mourinho has nailed his colours to Vinicius’ mast. The next chapter of their story will be written at the Bernabeu.
