Vinicius loses minutes under Mourinho and the coach warns him

Brazilian winger Vinicius Júnior is going through a tough spell at Real Madrid. According to Diario AS, he plays 12 fewer minutes per match under Mourinho than he did under Xabi Alonso in 2025-26, and this season he has 801 minutes in 11 games. Valencia will be the last of the four matches of his suspension for pulling Saliba's hair.

Ahead of that game, the Portuguese coach made clear that the team comes before any player. He said he has never wanted to harm the team to benefit a single footballer, and added that once Vinicius returns to normal and is available, he will manage him his own way.

The context does not help. Diomande has established himself on the left and the team flows without him. Mourinho argued that the match against AEK was a game for Vinicius and that a good player has bad moments, but reminded everyone that when deciding who plays, the team is above the player.

If he does not get back to his best level, the management Mourinho talks about could cost him even more.