Will Vinicius Jr stay at Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho? 'Strong signs' update on Brazilian forward's future plans following Champions League clash with the 'Special One'

The Mourinho return and the Vinicius factor

Mourinho has reportedly signed a three-year deal to return to the Madrid dugout

The tension dates back to a Champions League knockout clash in February when Mourinho, then managing Benfica, found himself at odds with the Brazil international. The narrative of Mourinho's second spell will undoubtedly be dominated by how he manages the 25-year-old, whose status as the club's premier talent has been challenged both by internal salary negotiations and the arrival of global stars like Kylian Mbappe.

Will Vinicius commit his long-term future?

Despite the looming presence of Mourinho, there are "strong signs" - according to

Vinicius has previously called Madrid "the club of my dreams," but the arrival of the "Special One" could act as a catalyst for change if the relationship does not click. Whether they can find a shared vision and if Mourinho will provide the "unwavering support" the player needs in the face of external pressure will be the defining story of the upcoming La Liga campaign.

Tensions boiling over from the Champions League

The roots of the friction lie in a heated night at the Estadio da Luz. After scoring a sensational goal, Vinicius was booked for his celebration before alleging

While UEFA eventually handed Prestianni a six-match ban for a homophobic insult - citing insufficient evidence for the racial remark - it was Mourinho’s reaction that caused the most damage. The Portuguese coach appeared to blame the victim, stating: "You score a goal from another world, why celebrate like that? The same thing always happens in so many stadiums. He’s an out of this world player, I love him. Vinicius tells me one thing and Prestianni tells me another. I want to be balanced."

Mourinho’s controversial stance on racism allegations

Further complicating their future relationship are Mourinho's specific comments regarding the atmosphere at Benfica. He suggested that Vinicius had incited the crowd, saying: "Yes. I believe so. It should be the crazy moment of the game, an amazing goal. Unfortunately [he was] not just happy to score that astonishing goal. When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way."

Mourinho also invoked the legacy of Eusebio to defend his former club against claims of a toxic environment. "When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person in the history of this club [Eusebio] was black," Mourinho added. "This club, the last thing that it is, is racist. They [Vinicius and Prestianni] told me different things. But I don't believe in one or another. I want to be an independent."