Mourinho seeking ‘killer’ Vinicius as Real Madrid face Rayo

Madrid – Many Real Madrid fans were disappointed when the club extended Vinicius Junior’s contract this summer, amid speculation he might depart for Arsenal. The Brazilian remains one of the key players of the modern Madrid era, having scored the winning goal in the Champions League final in 2022 and netting again as Madrid won the showpiece in 2024. However, along with superstars Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, finding balance in a team built around three players who are largely focused on attacking has proven difficult for Los Blancos. Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa could not manage it and each left the club over the past two seasons, having failed to win a major trophy since Mbappe’s arrival. Madrid president Florentino Perez, however, has long backed Vinicius.

The winger was his bet when signed at the age of 16 in 2017 and, after helping deliver two Champions League titles, remains a central part of the Madrid chief’s plans. Veteran coach Jose Mourinho was brought back to the Santiago Bernabeu in part to make Madrid’s luxury pieces fit together and pull them in line after a chaotic 2025/26 campaign. The Portuguese coach has acknowledged the difficulty of the task, but believes he can find a solution. “Tactically, it could be tricky… ” admitted Mourinho in August. “(But) they don’t play in incompatible positions. ” Vinicius has made a promising start statistically but has yet to rediscover the decisive edge that made him one of the most feared forwards in Europe. Mourinho described him as not yet being at his best after Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Inter Milan, although he praised the Brazilian’s work-rate. The winger was also whistled by some supporters during the second half before being substituted in the closing stages. Mourinho…