Mourinho warns Vinicius: no player is untouchable at Madrid

José Mourinho sent a clear warning to Vinicius Junior on Tuesday in a press conference: at Real Madrid, no player enjoys untouchable status, regardless of their price or prestige.

Ivorian Yan Diomandé took advantage of the Brazilian’s suspension to establish himself as a credible alternative. During Liga’s ninth matchday against Sevilla FC, he scored a goal and provided an assist, reigniting debate over the hierarchy on the left wing of the Merengues.

Vinicius received a red card on October 10 against Villarreal, punished for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair before contesting the referee’s decision. The disciplinary commission handed him a four-match suspension.

“Here, the only thing that is untouchable is the badge. No player is untouchable. It’s not a question of status, captain’s armband, or how much we spent to recruit him. What makes a player untouchable is his performance on the pitch,” Mourinho said.

Despite this warning, the Portuguese coach confirmed that Vinicius will start on Wednesday in the third matchday of the Champions League group stage against RB Leipzig at Santiago-Bernabéu. The exact position he will occupy remains uncertain.

“I can’t give it away. Vinicius is a left winger. I can perhaps use him in other positions in certain scenarios, but that’s his position. That’s the only thing I can confirm to you,” Mourinho said, adding that Diomandé himself didn’t know if he would be in the starting eleven.

The Brazilian’s suspension will, however, have a direct consequence on one of the season’s most anticipated fixtures: Vinicius will miss the Clásico against FC Barcelona at Camp Nou, scheduled for October 25.