Matthaus urges Mourinho to bench Vinicius Junior

Jose Mourinho has been urged to see dropping Vinicius Junior adjacent aft the Brazilian returns from suspension, with Germany fable Lothar Matthaus claiming Real Madrid are a amended squad without the winger.

The erstwhile Bayern Munich midfielder has launched a fierce disapproval of the 26-year-old's attitude, questioning his power connected Madrid's corporate performances and suggesting that his behaviour is damaging the club.

Speaking to reporters up of Bayern's Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund, Matthaus pointed to Real Madrid's caller victories implicit Barcelona and Roma arsenic grounds that Mourinho's broadside tin thrive without relying connected Vinicius.

His involution comes astatine a peculiarly hard infinitesimal for the Brazil international, who is serving a four-match La Liga suspension pursuing his dismissal against Villarreal earlier this month.

With summertime signing Yan Diomande making an progressively convincing lawsuit for a regular starting role, Matthaus believes Mourinho should beryllium prepared to marque a determination that would person seemed astir unthinkable not agelong ago.

Matthaus urges Mourinho to seat Vinicius Junior

Speaking during a media gathering successful Munich, arsenic reported by German paper Bild, Matthaus questioned whether Vinicius inactive deserves an automatic spot successful Mourinho's starting lineup.

"I'm funny to spot what Real Madrid bash with Vinicius Junior, due to the fact that Real relation amended without him," the 1990 World Cup victor said.

"We triumph a Clasico successful Barcelona again aft 2 oregon 3 years. We performed without Vinicius Junior successful Rome, wherever they went connected to triumph 4-3."

Matthaus was referring to Madrid's 2-1 triumph astatine Camp Nou past Sunday and their singular Champions League comeback against Roma, erstwhile Vinicius was substituted with his broadside trailing 3-1.

However, the German's disapproval extended considerably further than the Brazilian's caller performances.

"The occupation astatine Real Madrid is Vinicius Junior," helium declared.

"When he's not there, the squad functions better. They're much disciplined, everyone works for each other, together. With him, it's each astir ego. A immense ego, and his full assemblage language. That harms the squad and the club."

Matthaus past called for nonstop involution from either Mourinho oregon Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

"I hope, for Real Madrid's sake, that astatine immoderate constituent the president has immoderate wide words with Vinicius Junior, either reprimands him oregon Mourinho leaves him connected the bench."

The erstwhile Germany skipper besides contrasted Vinicius's behaviour with that of Harry Kane, who won the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

Matthaus praised the Bayern striker's professionalism and willingness to marque clip for others, describing him arsenic a man earlier arguing that Vinicius does not show the aforesaid qualities.

He adjacent admitted being pleased that the Real Madrid guardant finished extracurricular the apical 10 successful this year's Ballon d'Or voting, wherever the Brazilian placed 17th.

Vinicius faces uncertain Real Madrid relation aft Clasico victory

Matthaus's remarks get amid increasing scrutiny of Vinicius's presumption nether Mourinho.

The Brazilian was already dropped successful favour of Diomande for the triumph implicit Villarreal connected October 10, earlier his instauration from the seat ended successful controversy.

Vinicius was sent disconnected for pulling Nathan Saliba's hair, with the Spanish Football Federation subsequently imposing a four-match suspension that included an further punishment for his protests towards the referee.

The prohibition ruled him retired of Madrid's triumph implicit Barcelona, erstwhile Kylian Mbappe scored doubly and Diomande contributed to the opening goal.

Mourinho's broadside besides demonstrated their quality to retrieve without Vinicius during the melodramatic 4-3 Champions League triumph against Roma.

The winger was withdrawn successful the 59th infinitesimal with Madrid trailing 3-1, earlier Endrick and his chap substitutes helped animate a singular turnaround.

Vinicius subsequently acknowledged that Mourinho had been close to regenerate him, contempt initially feeling frustrated by the decision.

Those results person intensified questions astir his spot successful the attacking hierarchy, though 2 victories cannot conclusively found that Madrid are stronger without the Brazilian.

Mourinho has already insisted that estimation unsocial does not warrant selection, making wide that players indispensable gain their places done their performances.

Vinicius remains unavailable for the upcoming league fixtures against Racing Santander and Valencia, with his home instrumentality scheduled for aft the November planetary break.

Matthaus's proposition goes beyond the enforced absence, however, by challenging whether Mourinho should reconstruct the Brazilian to his starting lineup erstwhile helium becomes eligible again.

For a subordinate who has spent respective seasons among Madrid's astir influential attacking figures, that represents a important question astir his lasting nether the Portuguese coach.