Troubling stats behind Vinicius’ diminishing role at Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho

Troubling stats behind Vinicius’ diminishing role at Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho Vinicius Jr. is experiencing a significant change in his standing at Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho, which happens to be very unfamiliar territory for the 26-year-old.  The Brazilian forward is no longer an automatic starter, his playing time has declined compared with previous seasons, and the team’s recent performances suggest that his absence is becoming less difficult to accommodate.  With Yan Diomande establishing himself as an alternative on the left, Vinicius is facing increasing competition at a time when his own form has been below expectations. His suspension for the upcoming meeting with Valencia, following his sending-off against Villarreal, will keep him out of another fixture and will be the last of his four-match ban.  However, the bigger concern for Vinicius is what happens when he returns.  This is because Mourinho’s selection decisions have recently demonstrated that the Brazilian’s reputation does not guarantee him a place in the starting XI. Vinicius’ minutes have dropped significantly under Mourinho The decline in Vinicius’s involvement is evident in his playing-time figures.  He has accumulated 801 minutes this season, which is considerably below the 1,420 minutes he recorded in 2024–25 at this stage of the season, his most prolific campaign, and the 1,284 minutes from last season. The comparison with his previous manager is even more troubling as Vinicius is playing an average of 12 minutes fewer per match under Mourinho than he did under Xabi Alonso during the 2025–26 campaign. These figures are indeed a massive problem not only for the player but also for the club , as they decided to bet big by extending his contract in the summer.  Comparison of matches and minutes played by Vinicius Jr. at this stage of the season This season, the Brazilian’s name has also become a more frequent substitution, suggesting that Mourinho is willing to make changes to his attack and is not treating Vinicius as an untouchable member of the team. Speaking of Mourinho, he has clearly indicated that selection would depend on performances, emphasising that players must earn their positions through what they deliver on the pitch.  Ahead of the Valencia fixture , he reinforced that approach when asked about the forward’s return: “When [Vinicius] is back to normal and available, I’ll make my decision.” The response was once again a strong sign that there is no guarantee that Vinicius would immediately reclaim his starting position once available.  Diomande’s emergence has changed Vinicius’s position One of the reasons behind this shift is Diomande’s growing influence.  The summer signing has established himself as an effective option on the left wing, giving Mourinho an alternative who has made the most of his opportunities. Previously, taking the Brazilian out of the starting XI could be viewed as a major decision because of his importance to Madrid’s attacking play, but now, Diomande’s performances provide Mourinho with another option capable of influencing matches. Indeed, Vinicius still has strong support within the club, including from his manager. However, that backing does not necessarily translate into guaranteed minutes.  Real Madrid have performed admirably in Vinicius’ absence. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images) All this means it is Vinicius himself who must show that he deserves to start rather than rely on the importance he has held in previous seasons. Real Madrid are showing less dependence on Vinicius Perhaps the clearest indication of Vinicius’s changing importance is Real Madrid’s ability to produce convincing attacking performances without him. They scored four goals against Sevilla in a 4-1 victory, registering 15 shots, before winning 2-1 at Camp Nou.  Their subsequent 3-0 victory against Racing Santander was another example of their attacking output, with Real Madrid recording 22 attempts on goal. The performances suggest that Mourinho is building a more collective attacking structure.  Diomande and Jude Bellingham have contributed significantly to the team’s balance, while Kylian Mbappe continues to provide a major attacking threat and is evidently enjoying better chemistry with the Ivorian than he does with Vinicius.  For what it is worth, that does not mean Real Madrid have no use for the Brazilian’s individual qualities.  His pace, dribbling and ability to create chances remain important assets, although the team’s strong performances in his absence have weakened the argument that he must always be included in the starting XI.