nnJose Mourinho played a decisive role in Vinicius Junior’s decision to extend his Real Madrid contract until 2032, presenting the Brazil forward as a central figure in the club’s next era.
The Portuguese manager did more than express his admiration for Vinicius’ ability. He made clear that the new Real Madrid would be built around the 25-year-old, whom he considers one of the main players capable of delivering success in the years ahead.
The renewal followed lengthy and, at times, complicated negotiations. According to Spanish newspaper AS, the disagreement between the two sides gradually eased because both wanted to continue their relationship.
Real Madrid remained determined to keep Vinicius and improved its final offer, while the player showed flexibility over his financial demands. He accepted a figure below the amount requested when the negotiations began.
An agreement was eventually reached, extending Vinicius’ contract to 2032. Mourinho’s influence emerged during the final stage of the discussions as an important factor, although it was not the only reason the player chose to stay.
For Vinicius, recognition of his importance and his role in the club’s new sporting project was almost as significant as the financial agreement completed on Wednesday. Mourinho wanted him to feel that he would be one of the foundations of the new Real Madrid and that the coach viewed him as a vital part of his long-term plans.
That appears to have been reflected in Vinicius’ message of thanks after the renewal was announced. He mentioned “the president”, “Jony”, “Jose Angel” and his team-mates, but also singled out Mourinho – a clear indication of the part the coach played during this stage.
Mourinho and Vinicius first made direct contact during the World Cup, when the coach called the Brazilian. Their initial conversation was not about detailed plans or specific aspects of the future. It was simply an early attempt to establish a relationship.
The first impression was highly positive, however, and the pair quickly developed a good rapport. That relationship later helped convince Mourinho that Vinicius should be one of the central figures in his new Real Madrid project.
Vinicius recalled their first conversation by saying: “I met the new coach and the new players and trained hard.”
He added: “Mourinho asked me to be: happy, cheerful, and to play football in my own style.”
Mourinho believes Vinicius has the qualities required for the team he wants to construct. The forward can change the course of a match on his own, maintains a constant attacking threat and is capable of creating danger in a wide range of situations.
Those attributes explain why the Portuguese manager wanted the side to be built around him. Mourinho sees Vinicius as a player he can continue to develop and whose abilities he can use to their fullest extent. The new contract is a clear sign of the central status the coach wants him to hold.
The first major challenge is to recover the best version of Vinicius – the player who came close to winning the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
Everyone involved in the new project believes he can return to that level if given the right environment to rediscover consistency and excellence. His statistics did not decline dramatically last season: he scored 22 goals and provided 11 assists.
It was also the fifth consecutive season in which Vinicius passed the 20-goal mark, while contributing to more than 10 further goals through assists or penalties. Even so, his overall performances did not always match the standard he had previously established, making the campaign a troubled one despite the strong numbers.
A misunderstanding with Xabi Alonso was one of the main sources of tension for Vinicius, with the situation reaching its peak during the incident at Camp Nou. Alvaro Arbeloa, by contrast, gave the player clear support, standing firmly behind him and reiterating that position on more than one occasion.
As the 2026-27 season begins, Vinicius appears to have an additional motivation: proving himself again on the pitch. He had started the World Cup under Carlo Ancelotti in promising fashion, but the tournament ended in major disappointment when Brazil were eliminated by Norway in the last 16.
His situation now looks different. With his future secured at Real Madrid until 2032 and a clear understanding with Mourinho over his importance and responsibilities, Vinicius is smiling again and beginning a new chapter after a very different previous season.
Mourinho’s second major challenge will be to create harmony across the entire squad. Vinicius will operate alongside Kylian Mbappe, requiring the coach to develop a system in which the two forwards move together rather than appearing as separate stars within the same team.
He must also preserve the influential role of Jude Bellingham. During the World Cup, Bellingham showed that he could carry significant responsibility, recalling the form that captured Real Madrid supporters’ affection during his outstanding first season at the club.
Vinicius, Mbappe and Bellingham are therefore expected to become three of the main attacking and creative leaders of the new Real Madrid. The squad has undergone major changes and lost Rodri, but has also been reshaped with a clearly defined new identity.
The project extends beyond that trio. It also includes a prolific striker in Diomande, whose arrival was one of the important moves connected to Mourinho’s involvement in designing the new team.
Mourinho understands that assembling a collection of elite players does not guarantee success. The real task is to make them function together, with every player understanding his role and contributing to the same plan.
That is why he invested particular effort in Vinicius. The objective is not merely to keep the Brazilian at Real Madrid, but to turn him into the genuine focal point of the project and provide the conditions in which he can rediscover his finest form.
Mourinho has chosen to place his faith in Vinicius, while Real Madrid has extended its own commitment to the forward until 2032. The difficult phase now begins: converting that trust into performances and results, and building a team capable of reclaiming its position at the top.
