Vinicius and Mbappe Rule Out Mourinho as Real Madrid's Next Manager

The prospect of Jose Mourinho managing Real Madrid has hit a significant stumbling block, with Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe firmly against the idea, according to Spanish reports.

The situation stems from a Champions League play-off first leg between Real Madrid and Benfica, where Vinicius Junior opened the scoring in the 51st minute to secure a 1-0 victory for the La Liga giants. His celebration proved controversial, drawing an angry response from the Portuguese crowd.

What followed was an alleged racist remark directed at the Brazilian forward by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni as the teams regrouped. The offending player attempted to conceal his words by pulling his shirt over his mouth, making it difficult for referee Francois Letexier to take action under the racism protocol.

Mourinho, managing Benfica at the time, subsequently weighed in on the incident with comments that drew widespread condemnation. The former Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United boss suggested Vinicius Jr's celebratory style had provoked the crowd, stating: "When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way."

He went on to claim the Brazilian and Prestianni had told him "different things" about their exchange, and referenced Eusebio, the club's legendary Black player, as evidence against accusations of racism within the institution.

Mourinho's remarks sparked fierce criticism from prominent figures in football, including Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards, Clarence Seedorf and Wayne Rooney, who accused him of victim-blaming and hypocrisy.

With Real Madrid potentially seeking a new manager to replace Alvaro Arbeloa—who took over from Xabi Alonso earlier in the year—Mourinho has been among the names circulating alongside Jurgen Klopp and Unai Emery. However, the Brazilian and French forwards have made their position abundantly clear: they do not want the Portuguese tactician in the dugout.

Sources suggest the incident has resonated deeply within Real Madrid's squad. Vinicius, who has unfortunately become a recurring target for discriminatory behaviour across various stadiums, is regarded as a particularly valued member of the dressing room when such matters arise. Both he and Mbappe reportedly feel Mourinho failed to take a sufficiently firm stance on what they view as a straightforward issue of principle.