Jose Mourinho has sparked debate after claiming Vinicius Jr. continues to suffer “bullying” from opponents and supporters following Real Madrid’s heated 2-1 win over Espanyol.
Jose Mourinho has launched a passionate defence of Vinicius Jr. following Real Madrid’s heated 2-1 La Liga victory over Espanyol.
The Real Madrid coach claimed the Brazilian continues to be deliberately targeted both by opposition players and supporters, using the word “bullying” to describe what he believes Vinicius is experiencing.
Mourinho’s comments came after another difficult night for the winger, who was involved in several confrontations during a physical match at the RCDE Stadium.
Mourinho says Vinicius is still being “bullied”
Speaking after the match, Mourinho acknowledged that Vinicius is not always innocent in confrontations but argued that the treatment he receives has gone too far.
“We’re in an era where society is against bullying, yet with Vini we’re still seeing bullying,” Mourinho said.
The Portuguese coach suggested that opponents repeatedly take turns committing fouls on Vinicius in an attempt to provoke an emotional reaction.
Mourinho said he has spoken directly with the Brazilian about maintaining control and avoiding situations that could result in unnecessary bookings or dismissals.
Early incident leaves Real Madrid furious
The controversy began only minutes into the match when Espanyol’s Álex Calatrava challenged Vinicius from behind before making further contact with the Brazilian while he was on the ground.
Real Madrid appealed for stronger punishment, but Calatrava was not sent off.
The incident became particularly controversial because the Espanyol player later scored his team’s equaliser.
Vinicius was eventually booked following another confrontation as tensions continued to rise.
Espanyol coach rejects Mourinho’s accusation
Espanyol manager Manolo González disagreed with Mourinho’s description of events.
He insisted the fouls committed against Vinicius were part of a normal competitive football match and denied that his players had deliberately targeted the Real Madrid winger.
The disagreement quickly turned the match into a wider debate over how Vinicius is treated by opponents in Spain.
Espanyol social media post adds fuel to the fire
The controversy continued away from the pitch when Espanyol’s official social media account posted a sarcastic message questioning how many times a player could go down before receiving a second yellow card.
The post was widely interpreted as a reference to Vinicius and an accusation of simulation.
That only added further attention to Mourinho’s claim that the Brazilian remains a constant target.
Courtois hits back at Espanyol
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois then entered the debate and publicly defended his teammate.
Courtois questioned whether clubs would post similar messages when facing teams other than Real Madrid and suggested Espanyol should examine their own actions before criticising Vinicius.
He also argued that Calatrava could have been sent off following his challenges on the winger.
A major change in Mourinho’s position
Mourinho’s defence of Vinicius is particularly notable because the pair were on opposite sides only months ago.
While coaching Benfica, Mourinho had previously criticised aspects of Vinicius’ behaviour during another heated European match.
Now, as Real Madrid coach, Mourinho has acknowledged that circumstances have changed.
“Now Vini is my player.”
And he has made clear that he intends to protect him.
The Vinicius debate is back
Real Madrid ultimately left with a 2-1 victory, but the biggest discussion after the final whistle centred on Vinicius.
Mourinho believes his player is being systematically provoked by opponents and supporters.
Espanyol insist they did nothing beyond normal football aggression.
Courtois has firmly backed his teammate.
One match into another heated La Liga chapter, the debate surrounding Vinicius Jr. is already back at the centre of Spanish football.
