Mourinho backs Vinicius Junior to rediscover best form as he calls for 2030 World Cup final at Santiago Bernabeu

Jose Mourinho says Vinicius Junior’s best form will return, insisting the Real Madrid forward is criticised because supporters expect him to produce more for the club.

Real Madrid host Rayo Vallecano at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday in the fifth round of La Liga, looking to respond after losing 1-0 to Real Betis in their previous league match.

Speaking before the game, Mourinho used a Portuguese saying to defend the Brazil international.

“In Portugal we have a saying, although I do not know whether it exists in Spain, that you only throw stones at trees that bear fruit,” he said.

“Vinicius has been here in recent years. How many Champions Leagues has he won? How many goals has he scored? What has he contributed here over the last five or six years?

“He is a very fruitful tree, and people throw stones at him because they want the fruit.”

Mourinho acknowledged that Vinicius has not yet returned to the level expected of him, but said the player had already shown he could decide major matches.

“They want the best version of Vinicius, and that version will come,” he added. “Against Benfica, he decided the match on his own. That version of Vinicius will return, but at the moment he has not reached that level yet.”

Mourinho wants World Cup final at Bernabeu

Portugal, Spain and Morocco will host the 2030 World Cup, but FIFA has not yet announced which stadium will stage the final.

Mourinho said his personal preference would be for the showpiece match to take place in Lisbon, while arguing that Santiago Bernabeu would be the most suitable venue.

“There is a difference between where the match should be played and where I would like it to be played,” he said. “Forgive me, but I would like it to be played in Lisbon.”

“If you can hold the match in a legendary and historic stadium where some of the best players in history have played, and in the stadium of the most important club in the history of football, then I think the match should be played at Santiago Bernabeu.”

The Real Madrid manager also took the opportunity to thank Rayo Vallecano coach Inigo Perez for his positive comments about him.

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank Inigo Perez, the Rayo Vallecano coach, because he said very kind things about me,” Mourinho said. “I did not deserve all of that, and I want to thank him publicly. Tomorrow I will have the chance to embrace him.”

Addressing criticism aimed at Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe, Mourinho returned to his earlier metaphor.

“I do not talk about people who criticise, and I use the same saying I mentioned about Vinicius because he is a very fruitful tree,” he said.

“I can comment on his statements, and he is right: a player who has scored more than 40 goals can never be a problem for the team.”

Real Madrid are third in La Liga with nine points, behind Deportivo Alaves and Barcelona.