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José Mourinho has firmly defended Vinícius Júnior's loyalty to Real Madrid, stating that the winger turned down numerous lucrative offers to sign a contract extension — and even admitted he personally would have pushed for a departure had he been in the Brazilian's position this past summer.
Speculation surrounding Vinícius Jr's future at the Bernabéu dominated headlines throughout the summer. Saudi Arabian clubs have long been interested, but Arsenal entered the picture following the World Cup, with some reports suggesting those at the Emirates were genuinely convinced a transfer would happen.
A new deal was eventually agreed upon, yet questions about Vinícius Jr's long-term future at the club have persisted. A string of below-par displays and a four-game suspension following a red card in his most recent La Liga appearance have led many to wonder whether Madrid were right to commit to the Brazilian star.
It is a challenging period for Vinícius Jr, and Mourinho was keen to remind frustrated supporters just how dedicated the embattled winger remains to the club.
"He's a remarkable person, very easy to be around," Mourinho said. "I have a great deal of affection for him, and he's truly outstanding.
"He has incredible value because he manages to live and carry on with a smile on his face. If it had been me, I probably wouldn't still be here. Last summer, I would have pushed for a move to a country or set of clubs where I'd be treated with respect. Out of his love for the club and the city, and because he believes things will get better, he signed the extension and keeps smiling.
"People may try to bring him down because he's only human, but I don't believe anyone can strip away that happiness."
He continued: "When I arrived, he renewed his contract, showed that Madrid is his home and made clear his desire to keep making history and winning trophies. He has a great relationship with everyone in the dressing room; he brings energy and joy.
"I have absolutely no doubt about whether he has the resolve to stay here given all the offers that were on the table."
Mourinho: I Thought Vinícius Jr's Suspension Would Be Longer
The four-match ban handed to Vinícius Jr represented the latest setback in the winger's ongoing effort to rediscover his top form.
He was reportedly angered to discover that his red card for pulling the hair of Villarreal's Nathan Saliba resulted in a four-game ban — with only two games stemming from the incident itself and an additional two arising from his aggressive response toward the referee.
Vinícius then failed to take full advantage of what was set to be a rare midweek appearance, being substituted while his side trailed Roma 3–1. An emotional reaction to being taken off did little to help his cause, and it was made worse by watching his teammates stage a comeback from the bench.
"Vinícius had a very tough match," Mourinho acknowledged. "The main reason for his performance is [Roma manager Gian Piero] Gasperini, who targeted us down just one flank. Three players against [Marc] Cucurella and him...
"What frustrated me was how the second goal came about, at a point when the game felt controlled and even. We knew how they would press, and Vini needed to hold the ball or win a foul. But that's all. It's not a major issue. I made five substitutions; that's just football. The intensity is incredibly high, and it's hard to maintain that pace for a full 90 minutes.
"Vini's path forward is to work harder than those who feature every game. Without making any guarantees, I think he'll be in the starting lineup for the Champions League on Wednesday."
Mourinho wrapped up by expressing his surprise that Vinícius's ban was limited to four games, once again invoking the Portuguese expression of a "hidden cat" to hint at a conspiracy targeting the winger.
"As for the four-game ban, I'm relieved because I expected it to be longer," he laughed. "I thought the hidden cats were going to add another game or two on top."