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Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho confessed that watching Vinícius Júnior struggle is deeply painful, with the winger also at risk of sitting out the season's first Clásico following his red card last weekend.
Vinícius Jr's performances of late have come under intense scrutiny, as he has managed only one goal and one assist for his club in the 2026–27 campaign.
The 26-year-old, who penned a lucrative contract extension through 2032 this summer, spoke candidly about his difficulties during the international break, acknowledging a crisis of confidence. The Brazilian's woes were further compounded in Madrid's latest La Liga fixture when he was dismissed for grabbing the hair of Villarreal's Nathan Saliba.
Mourinho Backs Vinícius Jr
When asked about his No. 7's difficult season ahead of the Champions League encounter with Roma, Mourinho voiced his hope that the "real Vinícius" would soon make his return.
"I've said that it breaks my heart to see Vini in this situation," Mourinho told Sky Italia on Tuesday. "He's cheerful every day, he puts in the effort, but so far this year he hasn't managed to find that joy of making a decisive impact.
"Let's see if, in the Champions League — given that he's suspended in the league — he can rediscover what it means to be the real Vinícius".
His domestic ban means he is set to feature from the start in Rome, having been left out of the squad entirely for the Villarreal fixture.
What's Going on With Vinícius Jr?
It has been a difficult few months for Vinícius Jr, who has found the adjustment to the new Mourinho era harder than any other high-profile player at the club.
Once considered arguably Madrid's most vital player, he has drifted to the fringes this season — even while retaining his place in the starting eleven.
Deployed on the left flank in a 4-2-3-1 system, he has been forced to compete with Kylian Mbappé for his favored areas of the pitch. While this tension is nothing new at Madrid, it has grown more acute this season, with Mbappé thriving as Vinícius fades into the background.
The addition of record signing Yan Diomande — who netted his first goal of the season in the victory over Villarreal — only intensifies the pressure on Vinícius, whose starting spot faces a genuine challenge for the first time in years.
He recently acknowledged that Brazil's premature World Cup exit weighed heavily on him, while the drawn-out contract negotiations may have served as an unwanted distraction.
The forward, who finished as Ballon d'Or runner-up in 2024, has been met with jeers and whistles from the Bernabéu faithful on multiple occasions this season. However, the supporters did rally behind him when he was shown a red card during the win over Villarreal.
Following the match, he took to Instagram to write: "The joy continues. My apologies to my team and the fans."
Will Vinícius Jr Miss the Clásico?
Vinícius Jr was shown a straight red card on Saturday in one of the more bizarre incidents of the season to date.
The forward, introduced as a substitute during the match, believed he had put Madrid 2–0 ahead in the second half after converting Jude Bellingham's pass, only for the goal to be disallowed and a straight red card issued following a VAR review that revealed he had pulled Saliba's hair in the build-up.
The straight red means Vinícius faces a potential multi-match ban, subject to the referee's report. La Liga regulations stipulate that red cards arising from incidents with no genuine attempt to contest the ball carry an automatic two-match suspension. Additionally, the VAR audio characterized the incident as "violent conduct," making it increasingly likely that the forward will serve a ban of more than one game.
Should he receive a suspension of more than one match, he would be absent for the home fixture against Sevilla (Sun, Oct. 18) and the Clásico away at Barcelona's Camp Nou (Sun, Oct. 25).