Real Madrid coach José Mourinho believes it is only a question of time before Vinícius Júnior returns to top form, according to a report by the newspaper El Mundo. The Brazilian winger has dipped in form and faced plenty of criticism, yet his standing inside Real Madrid remains exceptional. The club renewed his contract for 25 million euros per year over six seasons, and officials see him as far more than one of the team's most prominent figures. They describe him as the glue holding the dressing room together, with strong relationships across different groups of players, including Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde.
Mourinho has shown public support for his forward. After Vinicius celebrated a goal against Villarreal that was later ruled out, Mourinho ran towards him and celebrated wildly, a gesture that seemed aimed at helping the player win back a Santiago Bernabeu crowd that has jeered him in most matches this season. Behind the scenes, Mourinho has held several private conversations with Vinicius, helped by the fact that both speak Portuguese.
The coach has also asked the player to change his daily routine, particularly around rest and recovery, after noticing he sometimes spends long hours at the Valdebebas training centre instead of getting the rest he needs. Working with the coaching staff and personal fitness trainers, Real Madrid have adjusted parts of his programme, and Vinicius has committed to changing his habits.
The board believes the player's level has clearly declined, a shift from the period when Xabi Alonso left him on the substitutes' bench. Mourinho now faces the task of recovering a star who is central to the club's sporting project and carries considerable financial value. The plan aims to restore his confidence and his usual level, so that the "heart of the team" can once again have an impact on the pitch and in the dressing room.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing