Mourinho says Vinicius Junior is being ‘bullied’ after Espanyol clash

Jose Mourinho has strongly defended Vinicius Junior, saying the Real Madrid forward is being subjected to what he described as “bullying” by opposing players and supporters after his side’s hard-fought win over Espanyol in the opening round of La Liga.

Vinicius was involved in several confrontations during the match, prompting Mourinho to criticise the way the Brazilian is treated by opponents. The Real Madrid manager said the winger was being targeted in a manner that went beyond normal physical competition.

Mourinho, speaking in comments reported by Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, acknowledged that his previous remarks about Vinicius could be brought up again now that he is defending the player.

“I run the risk of you going back several months and taking my words from when I was Vini’s opponent. Now, Vini is mine,” Mourinho said.

The Portuguese coach stopped short of portraying Vinicius as faultless, insisting that the player was not a “saint”. However, he argued that the treatment directed at him during matches had crossed the boundaries of acceptable sporting rivalry.

Mourinho said Vinicius was repeatedly subjected to provocation and physical challenges, while suggesting that similar incidents involving other players would be viewed differently by officials.

“Vini is not a saint, but there are things that go beyond the limits,” he said, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The manager also referred to an incident from the Espanyol match in which Alex Calatrava kicked Vinicius in the back while both players were on the pitch. Mourinho believed the Espanyol player should have received a yellow card, but no booking was shown.

He claimed that opponents often exchanged fouls involving Vinicius during games without receiving the appropriate punishment, contributing to what he sees as a recurring pattern in the way the Brazilian is handled.

Mourinho’s comments have also revived criticism of his previous stance on Vinicius. About six months ago, when Real Madrid played Benfica in the Champions League, Argentina international Gianluca Prestianni was accused of directing a racist insult at the Brazilian in an incident that sparked widespread controversy.

At that time, Mourinho criticised Vinicius’ behaviour and questioned the way he celebrated a goal. The manager asked why the forward had gone towards one corner of the pitch rather than celebrating with his team-mates.

Those remarks led to further debate about Vinicius’ conduct and the treatment he receives on the pitch. Mourinho’s latest comments represent a notably stronger defence of the player, now that Vinicius is part of his Real Madrid squad.

The manager’s description of the incidents as “bullying” was rejected by Manolo, the Espanyol defender. He said, from his perspective, the events during the match were no more than normal physical contact in football.

The disagreement highlights the continuing tension surrounding Vinicius, whose playing style and reactions have made him a frequent focus of attention during matches. Mourinho maintained that the Brazilian should not be treated differently by opponents or officials, while Espanyol’s Manolo insisted the confrontation remained within the usual limits of the sport.