ไทย
English
中國人
It's hard to imagine José Mourinho's spirits were lifted by Vinícius Júnior's performance in Rome, as the Brazilian's difficult run of form continued in the Italian capital.
The returning Real Madrid manager is doing everything in his power to unlock the best version of his No. 7, having previously drawn out the finest qualities of so many unpredictable stars throughout his managerial career.
Across 10 appearances in all competitions this season, Vinícius Jr has managed just four goal contributions and a single goal—a meager return for a player of his quality. This is a man who came agonizingly close to winning the Ballon d'Or two years ago and has been widely regarded as one of the planet's elite players for much of the 2020s.
It's a dip in form unlike anything he's experienced since his ascent to global stardom, and there will be precious few chances for Vinícius Jr to rediscover his best before the November international break.
The Brazilian is absent from Madrid's La Liga fixture against Sevilla on Sunday and will remain sidelined from domestic action for the coming weeks.
Why Vinícius Júnior Isn't Playing vs. Sevilla
Vinícius Jr believed he had ended a six-week drought for a goal from open play when he tapped in from close range against Villarreal last weekend. As Mourinho joined the celebrations on the touchline, it appeared as though things were finally looking up.
However, replays revealed that the Brazilian had grabbed the hair of midfielder Nathan Saliba in the lead-up to the goal, drawing the attention of the video assistant referee. Isidro Díaz de Mera made his way to the pitchside monitor and proceeded to dismiss Vinícius Jr for violent conduct. His goal was, naturally, disallowed as well.
There was considerable debate surrounding the length of the ban with El Clásico on the horizon, and the decision was announced just ahead of Madrid's Champions League encounter against Roma on Wednesday. Vinícius Jr received a four-match suspension, with the first game of that ban being served this weekend.
The 26-year-old will also be absent for El Clásico the following Sunday, along with La Liga matches against Racing Santander and Valencia. He won't return to action in the Spanish top flight until after the November international break.
He will, however, be available for Madrid's upcoming Champions League games against RB Leipzig and AEK Athens, as domestic bans do not extend to European competition.
How Could José Mourinho Replace Viní Jr?
Yan Diomande is the natural candidate to step in, with a large portion of the Madrid fanbase urging Mourinho to hand the most expensive African player in history a starting role over the Brazilian following the recent break.
Diomande netted his first goal for the club in last week's narrow victory over Villarreal and impressed after Viní Jr's midweek exit. Mourinho's bold, attack-minded response to going 3–1 down in Rome—which saw strikers Endrick and Carlos Espí introduced from the bench—is unlikely to serve as a blueprint from the start of any upcoming match, even if Diomande flourished amid the mayhem on Wednesday.
The Ivorian is expected to start on the left flank, with Brahim Díaz and Arda Güler providing alternatives on the opposite side. Both creative players will look to cut inside, with Denzel Dumfries providing width on the overlap.
Rodrygo remains a long way from returning to first-team action after suffering an ACL tear back in March.