Jose Mourinho has disclosed the conversation that helped persuade Vinicius Jr to turn down the possibility of a move away from Real Madrid, insisting he told the Brazilian forward that leaving the Spanish giants simply "wasn't worth it."
Vinicius Jr, 26, had been entering the final year of his contract at the Bernabeu, which would have allowed him to depart on a free transfer next summer. That situation drew interest from Premier League champions Arsenal, who were reportedly monitoring developments as talks between the winger and Real Madrid dragged on. However, the uncertainty was resolved earlier this month when Vinicius Jr put pen to paper on a new six-year deal, tying his future to the club.
Mourinho, who returned to Real Madrid for a second spell as head coach in June, revealed his role in the negotiations during an appearance on Spanish television programme El Chiringuito. According to the 63-year-old, Vinicius Jr's attachment to the club runs deep, shaped by the fact he arrived in Spain as a teenager and has known no other major European destination.
"Vinicius has fallen in love with Real Madrid," Mourinho said. "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 Real Madrid when you leave. When you leave that's when you realise what Real Madrid is. Don't leave. It's not worth it.'"
The coach added that the winger's sense of belonging has grown alongside the progress of the squad under his management. "I think what he has felt in terms of the group's growth, the way we've been working and developing, has given him a very important feeling," Mourinho explained.
The pair's relationship extends beyond this transfer saga. Last season, while in charge of Benfica, Mourinho faced Real Madrid three times in the Champions League. During the first leg of a knockout play-off between the two sides, Real's players accused Benfica youngster Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing Vinicius Jr, an incident that halted play for roughly eight minutes. Prestianni denied the allegation at the time, and Mourinho stood by his player throughout the controversy. UEFA subsequently banned Prestianni for three matches, with an additional three suspended, citing homophobic conduct.
Reflecting on that episode, Mourinho made clear where his loyalties lay, even as he now manages the very player at the centre of the incident. "Prestianni was my player. That's it. There's no debate. If Prestianni is my player, 20 players can come at me and I'm still with Prestianni. End of story," he said. He added that Vinicius Jr is now aware of his position: "I think Vini now knows what side I am now on and knows he can look me in the eye and rely on me to be on his side."
Mourinho previously led Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, lifting La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup during that spell. Since then, he has managed Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan before returning to the Bernabeu more than a decade later. The Portuguese coach believes the years away have changed him as a manager, though not diminished his competitive edge.
"Obviously, I can't hide or try to be something I'm not. I'm much more mature, less emotional and more controlled," Mourinho said. "As always, I learn from mistakes. But I don't regret this or that, because I don't think regretting something that has happened helps anything in life. Learning from experiences does. In this job as a coach, I think the more experience you have, the more deja vu you have, the better you become."
He was quick to add that his evolution as a manager does not mean a duller version of himself will be on show at Real Madrid this time around. "That's not to say I'm more boring. I have the same DNA," he concluded.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.