Jose Mourinho reveals what he said to Vinicius Jr after Real Madrid star issued racism complaint
Jose Mourinho says he instructed Vinicius Junior to ‘just celebrate and walk back’ in future after the forward issued a complaint of alleged racist abuse in Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Benfica.
There were deeply troubling and unsavoury scenes after Vinicius Junior broke the deadlock with a moment of magic just five minutes after the restart at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.
Vinicius Junior celebrated his sublime effort by dancing directly in front of Benfica’s home fans by the corner flag – a reaction which immediately upset many of Mourinho’s players.
Referee Francois Letexier showed Vinicius Junior a yellow card for his part in goading Benfica’s supporters behind the goal, many of whom reacted by hurling objects at the 25-year-old attacker.
But just moments later during a nine-minute pause in play, Vinicius Junior was seen sprinting over to Letexier to issue a complaint about something Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni had allegedly muttered from behind his shirt in the fracas.
After a brief chat with Vinicius, Letexier placed his arms in the shape of a cross, a gesture used to signal a complaint of racist abuse in UEFA anti-racism protocol.
While it remains uncertain what – if anything – Prestianni had said, Spanish publication AS are reporting that Vinicius Junior is accusing the Argentinian of calling him a ‘monkey’.
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After play eventually got underway again, the visitors held firm to take a one-goal advantage into the second leg of the knockout phase play-off at the Bernabeu.
Mourinho will be forced to watch on from the stands at his former stomping ground, though, with the Special One shown a red card for his protestations on the touchline in the closing stages of Tuesday’s bad-tempered match.
During the earlier incident involving Vinicius Junior, the Benfica boss was pictured speaking at length with the Brazilian, who, at the time, appeared apoplectic and close to leaving the field of play for good.
Addressing the ugly scenes in his post-match interview with Amazon Prime, Mourinho said: ‘I saw two completely different things. I want to be independent and I don’t comment about it. I told him [Vinicius] exactly that.
‘I told him [Vinicius] – when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back.
‘When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person [Eusebio] in the history of this club [Benfica] was black.
‘This club, the last thing that it is, is racist. If in his mind there was something in relation to that – this in Benfica.
‘They [Vinicius and Prestianni] told me different things. But I don’t believe in one or another. I want to be an independent.’
Mourinho went on to suggest that ‘something always happens’ in matches involving Vinicius Junior – comments which have since received widespread criticism amongst fans on social media.
‘There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium,’ the ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager continued.
‘A stadium where Vinicius plays something happens, always.
‘Look, I am saying it was a good 50 minutes of football. I believe millions of people are watching around the world – a crazy goal and then game over.’
On the red card he received at the death, Mourinho added: ‘Yes, because I told the referee the truth, but they don’t like to listen to the truth.’
Amazon Prime pundit Clarence Seedorf appeared to take umbrage with Mourinho’s controversial remarks, stating: ‘I think he’s [Mourinho] is still emotional.
‘I think he made a big mistake today to justify racial abuse and I’m not saying that was the case today but he mentioned something more than today.
‘He said wherever he goes these things happen, so he’s saying it’s OK when Vinicius provokes you, that is it OK to be racist and I think that is very wrong.
‘We should never, ever justify racial abuse. And Vinicius has had enough of that unjustified behaviour from people. And I know Mourinho by heart would agree with me but he expressed himself a bit unfortunate I believe because we should not be telling the people at home that someone makes a dance or something then it’s okay to be racist.’
Shortly after the final whistle, Vinicius Junior took to Instagram to issue a strong statement condemning the abuse he alleges he received in the Portuguese capital.
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‘Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are,’ the 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up wrote.
‘But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team’s life.
‘I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose.
‘I don’t like to appear in situations like this, especially after a big win and when the headlines should be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.’
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Article source: https://metro.co.uk/2026/02/17/mourinho-reveals-said-vinicius-jr-real-madrid-win-marred-racism-allegation-26958618/