Following a well-earned summer break, Vinicius Jr has returned to the fold for Real Madrid’s pre-season. The number 7 spoke to club media after his first encounter with manager Jose Mourinho, expressing his readiness for the upcoming campaign despite persistent speculation surrounding his future at the Bernabeu.
Vinicius Jr, the Real Madrid forward, revealed on Tuesday that new manager Jose Mourinho wants him to remain exactly as he has “always been”: “happy, joyful” and playing his natural game. The Brazilian spoke to club media after reporting for pre-season on Monday, amidst a whirlwind of reports concerning his future—ranging from a contract extension beyond 2027 to a potential exit as a free agent.
“He wants me to be how I have always been: happy, joyful and playing my football,” Vinicius Jr stated when asked about the Portuguese coach’s expectations. Although he is still getting to “know” Mourinho and new signings such as Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, and Carlos Espi, and is yet to clarify his long-term future, he insisted he remains 100% focused on training with the ‘Merengue’ squad.
“We need to build our physical fitness for the season to minimise injuries and have everyone available throughout the campaign,” he asserted. “Yesterday we had a double session, today just one… that is how it goes. Today was a bit of gym work, short sharp exercises to load the legs, and it was a strong session. We all finished exhausted, but now it is time to rest for tomorrow. That is what pre-season is all about, and we must be ready,” the Brazilian concluded.