Jose Mourinho appears set to drop Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid’s starting lineup when domestic action resumes after the international break, according to a report from Marca.
The Portuguese boss is said to be losing faith in the Brazilian winger, whose form has dipped sharply to start the 2026-27 campaign. Despite committing his long-term future to the club over the summer — turning down interest from Arsenal to sign a new contract — Vinicius has managed just one goal in eight appearances so far this season.
The warning signs have been building for weeks. In Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid last weekend, Mourinho withdrew the 26-year-old in just the 54th minute — the fourth straight match in which Vinicius has been substituted early, following similar hooks against Inter Milan, Rayo Vallecano and Elche.
The pattern has fueled speculation that Mourinho’s trust in his star forward is fading, with a place in the XI no longer guaranteed regardless of reputation.
The timing adds pressure to an already tense title race. Real Madrid sit five points adrift of leaders Barcelona in LaLiga, and with Mourinho demanding more from his squad, Vinicius now finds himself needing to fight for his starting spot rather than assume it.
Whether the benching materializes when Real Madrid return to action remains to be seen, but the message from the manager appears clear: no player, however decorated, is safe from the axe if results and form don’t improve.
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