Mourinho backs Vinicius after Bernabeu boos as Real Madrid forward starts against Rayo Vallecano

Vinicius Junior will start for Real Madrid against Rayo Vallecano as Jose Mourinho makes clear he will not drop the Brazil forward despite jeers from sections of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd.

The reaction towards Vinicius intensified during the European meeting with Inter, when some supporters began booing him from the opening stages. The criticism came despite a committed team performance in which he recovered possession nine times.

Vinicius did not produce his best work in front of goal and lacked the decisive touches Real Madrid fans have come to expect. However, he contributed significantly without the ball, showing a greater willingness to defend and support his team-mates than during the previous two seasons.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, some supporters continued to target the 26-year-old throughout the match, even though Real Madrid were involved in an important and demanding fixture.

The response from inside the club has been to confront the situation rather than remove the player from the spotlight. Mourinho does not believe Vinicius has lost his status within the squad and considers regular football, trust and improved fitness the best route back to his strongest form.

The manager particularly values the change in Vinicius’ defensive work. Although his attacking output has not yet reached the expected level, Mourinho believes the player’s wider contribution makes him too important to punish whenever his goals and assists decline.

Vinicius will therefore retain his place against Rayo Vallecano, with Mourinho also continuing to rely on his attacking partnership with Kylian Mbappe. The decision is intended to underline that the manager does not regard Vinicius’ presence alongside the France forward as the problem.

Real Madrid will also have more midfield options after Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva return from suspension. Aurelien Tchouameni is back, while Tiago Petarsh has also regained his fitness.

The additional choices mean Vinicius will not be expected to carry the team alone. Mourinho’s demand is for him to recover his influence through consistent minutes and match rhythm. At his best, his pace, one-on-one ability and movement into space make him a constant threat capable of changing a game with a single moment.

The issue has reached beyond the stands. After the Inter match, a senior figure in the dressing room approached Mourinho to express concern about the treatment of Vinicius, believing the pressure placed on him was unfair given what he has delivered for Real Madrid over recent years.

The message was that Vinicius must be helped to regain his happiness and confidence. Mourinho agrees that the forward needs to feel like a central part of the club’s plans rather than a player whose position is in doubt after a difficult spell.

Real Madrid’s hierarchy has sent a similar signal by extending Vinicius’ contract until 2032. The club views that agreement as a firm statement of faith in his ability and future, not simply a gesture. It does not want a temporary dip in form or a period of jeering to develop into a larger crisis.

The match against Rayo Vallecano will now test the Bernabeu’s response. Mourinho’s approach is straightforward: Vinicius must play, and he must answer his critics on the pitch. As he puts it, the Brazilian remains at the heart of his Real Madrid project.