Vinicius’ Real Madrid role under threat as Mourinho’s reshaped team wins praise

Real Madrid’s progress under Jose Mourinho could be undermined if Vinicius Junior is restored to the starting XI, former club defender Rafael Alkorta has warned.

Alkorta was speaking after Real Madrid’s latest victory, an away win against Racing Santander. The result strengthened his belief that a significant transformation is taking place inside the Real Madrid dressing room.

“Finally, we can talk about a team,” Alkorta said in his analysis for Cadena SER. “Over the past two seasons, Real Madrid were not a team; they were simply a collection of talented individuals.”

He added: “When you have outstanding individual players and manage to make them operate as one unit, you become capable of competing for everything. It seems Jose Mourinho has finally built a cohesive team with an identity that we have missed for years.”

Questions over Vinicius’ place

Despite praising the collective improvement, Alkorta identified Vinicius as the biggest question mark in Real Madrid’s new project.

He said he had serious doubts about whether the Brazil forward could adapt to the team’s current structure, insisting the issue was not related to fitness.

“I have many doubts about Vini,” Alkorta said. “The problem is not physical at all; it is purely mental. He will be indispensable in some matches, but I question whether he is mentally prepared to make the sacrifices and perform the tactical duties that Diomande is carrying out.”

Alkorta said Vinicius would have to make a significant effort if he wanted to regain his previous position in the team.

“If he wants to get back on the right track and recover his status, he will have to work twice as hard and improve many aspects of his performance,” he added.

Journalist Anton Miana agreed that the forward’s standing at the club had changed, although he stopped short of declaring his situation beyond repair.

“Vinicius’ situation is not hopeless, but it has become extremely difficult,” Miana said. “His position within the team has changed completely.”

Antonio Romero, meanwhile, highlighted the influence of new signing Yan Diomande, who he believes has improved the performances of those around him.

“Diomande is an exceptional player. He has improved the whole team, and even Cucurella looks better alongside him,” Romero said.

“We are talking about Vinicius, the second-most expensive player in the squad, who recently renewed his contract. Will we see him become a permanent substitute? I would have completely ruled that out, but now I have changed my mind. He must work hard because Diomande is the undisputed starter.”

Romero also warned that Mourinho was unlikely to abandon the system that has produced the recent improvement.

“I find it very difficult to imagine Mourinho changing the team in the big matches to play with three forwards just to keep any player happy,” he said. “That decision would wipe out all the progress that has been made.”

Real Madrid are listed to face AEK Athens in the Champions League on 04 November 2026, before playing Malaga in La Liga on 07 November 2026. Racing Santander were the opponents in their latest away match.