Mourinho to bench Vinícius Júnior for next La Liga game at Villarreal
The coach plans a second‑half appearance for Vinícius and hopes a short rest will revive his form ahead of El Clásico.
José Mourinho plans to leave Vinícius Júnior on the bench for Real Madrid's next La Liga fixture against Villarreal, according to recent reports. The move is presented as a short-term measure to help the forward regain his best form rather than a punishment.
Short rest, second-half plan
The coaching staff intends to introduce Vinícius in the second half of the match at Villarreal, with the expectation that the player will return to the starting lineup in subsequent fixtures. The decision follows a slow start to the campaign from the Brazilian attacker.
Mourinho believes a brief spell out of the XI could spark a positive reaction and restore the forward's confidence on the pitch. The plan is not framed as a loss of trust but as a tactical and psychological reset.
One explicit objective behind the rotation is to ensure Vinícius hits his stride ahead of the first El Clásico of the season against Barcelona.
Published 04.10.2026 22:00. Author: Saso Kuzmanovski.
Photo: press material from the event
