José Mourinho reported that he recommended Vinicius Jr not to leave Real Madrid, prompting the Brazilian forward to commit to staying at the club. The 26-year-old player had entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Bernabéu, which would have allowed him to leave for free next summer.
Arsenal, the Premier League champions, were watching for the possibility of signing him as negotiations over his renewal dragged on. However, Vinicius Jr ended the matter last month by committing to Real Madrid by signing a six-year contract.
Mourinho, who will return to Real Madrid for a second spell confirmed in June, explained his role in keeping the Brazilian international in the Spanish capital. On the Spanish television programme El Chiringuito, the 63-year-old coach said: "Vinicius has fallen in love with Real Madrid. The only thing I told him was: 'Vini, where do you want to go? You've only been in Brazil and you only know Real Madrid. You only understand what Real Madrid is when you leave. When you go is when you realize what Real Madrid is. Don't go. It's not worth it'."
Mourinho added that the growth of the team and the work done have generated in Vinicius "a very important feeling". The manager also made reference to the incident that occurred during his previous spell with Benfica, when Real Madrid players reported racial abuse by defender Gianluca Prestianni against Vinicius during a Champions League match. UEFA subsequently sanctioned Prestianni with three matches for homophobic conduct.
Mourinho explained that although Real Madrid had presented a good offer for Rodri, who eventually moved to Barcelona, the Spanish midfielder expressed doubts about the move. "We spoke a couple of times and Real Madrid made him a good offer. Rodri had doubts and his doubts made me doubt too," said the manager, who noted that Real Madrid's stature does not allow for players who "think twice" about coming.
During his previous spell in charge of Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. Now, 13 years older and after spells at Manchester United, Tottenham and Inter Milan, the Portuguese coach believed he was returning to Madrid as a more "controlled, less emotional" technical director, although he assured that this did not imply less capacity for spectacle. "Obviously, I cannot hide or try to be something I am not. I am much more mature, less emotional and more controlled," he said.
