Real Madrid News
Vinicius reveals Mourinho’s key message after return to Real Madrid training: ‘He wants me to…’
Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr.’s future at the club may be far from certain, but he has already returned to training under Jose Mourinho.
The club are set to hold an important meeting with the Brazilian to discuss a potential contract renewal, which could decide his future one way or the other.
The expectation is that if Vinicius does not put pen to paper on a new deal, the club will eventually look to sell him this month.
The 26-year-old has now offered an early insight into Jose Mourinho’s management style, revealing the message the new Real Madrid manager has given him.
Mourinho’s message to Vinicius
Speaking to Real Madrid TV after training, Vinicius explained that Mourinho’s instructions have been straightforward.
“It’s been very good, getting to know the new coach and the new players and training very hard,” Vinicius said.
“Mourinho wants me to be the way I’ve always been: happy, cheerful and to play my football.”
The comments offer an encouraging glimpse into the relationship developing between the pair, with Mourinho seemingly focused on allowing Vinicius to express himself rather than overcomplicating his role.
Focused on building fitness
Vinicius also highlighted the intensity of Madrid’s pre-season preparations, stressing the importance of getting into peak condition before the campaign begins.
“We have to prepare physically so that during the season we have fewer injuries and can have everyone available,” he explained.
The Brazilian added that the demanding workload is already being felt within the squad.
“Yesterday we had two sessions, today one. That’s how it goes. Today we did some gym work and short, intense exercises to put more load on our legs,” he explained.
“It was a good training session and we all finished very tired, but now it’s time to rest for tomorrow. Preseason is like this and we have to be prepared.”
Arsenal are lurking
Arsenal are the club most interested in signing the Brazilian should an exit be on the cards this summer transfer window. The Gunners are keen to make Vinicius the face of their project at the Emirates.
The meeting between Real Madrid and Vinicius this week is extremely crucial, with the club still hoping that the Brazilian signs a new deal.
However, no player is bigger than the club, and if Los Blancos do not feel Vinicius’ demands can be matched, they will look to sell him this summer.
Vinicius could either be spending his last few days as a Real Madrid player or be at the beginning of a new era for the club, and it remains to be seen how the cookie crumbles.
After three successive wins to start the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis came as a reality check for Real Madrid, who are still some way off matching the quality and consistency of Barcelona.
In light of the defeat, the Real Madrid coaching staff is analysing the best way to get the most out of the current setup.
More expected from Valverde
According to Defensa Central, one of the key conclusions drawn from the Betis defeat is that Real Madrid need greater involvement from Federico Valverde with the ball.
The Uruguayan has been deployed as the pivot, largely due to the absence of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, but he is yet to make the step up in quality the team requires from that role.
While his effort and commitment are never in doubt, Mourinho and his staff, led by Sami Khedira, feel Valverde spends too much time positioned behind the opposition’s midfield line.
As a result, he fails to offer passing lanes to his teammates when they are under pressure, forcing them into hurried, aimless clearances rather than playing out cleanly from the back.
That concern has already been communicated to Valverde, who is still adapting to a position he has never truly played, making the challenge all the more difficult for him.
A collective issue to fix
However, the problem is not Valverde’s alone, with the coaching staff identifying a wider issue in the team’s structure.
Khedira has reportedly noted a certain passivity from the attackers in the videos of the match, particularly Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, when it comes to offering themselves as the ball transitions from midfield into attacking areas.
That lack of movement compounds the difficulties for the deeper midfielders.
Mourinho, for his part, remains unfazed by the departure of Rodri to Barcelona, insisting his squad has the tools to cope.
“I’m not missing Rodri. We have solutions, we have quality,” the Portuguese said, before adding that he backs his ability to improve players.
With a Champions League opener against Inter Milan on the horizon, Mourinho and his staff will be keen to iron out these issues quickly.
