Mourinho defends Endrick and calls for more protection for Vinicius Junior

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho confirmed on Tuesday that young Brazilian forward Endrick will remain with the team for the 2026/27 season. Despite receiving numerous inquiries from other clubs, Mourinho stated that he does not intend to sell or loan the player, citing Endrick's significant talent. The attacker is currently recovering from a muscle and tendon injury and will miss the upcoming match against Real Sociedad. Regarding the squad, Mourinho noted that while the transfer market remains open, he is content with his current players. This follows a summer of restructuring that saw the arrival of six players, including Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella, and record signing Yan Diomande, though a bid for Rodri failed as the midfielder joined Barcelona.

Mourinho also urged referees to provide more protection for Vinicius Junior. He argued that opponents have entered a dynamic where they feel they can pressure the Brazilian physically or verbally without sufficient consequence. While Mourinho believes Vinicius can better control his reactions to typical crowd insults, he insisted that it is the responsibility of the judge to prevent fouls and aggression on the pitch. In a separate discussion regarding Spanish officiating, Mourinho expressed belief in the honesty of current referees and stated he sees no current link between them and the Negreira case.

The reports differ in their focus and framing of the manager's demeanor. Center lean coverage focuses primarily on squad management and the protection of Brazilian players. Center left coverage emphasizes Mourinho's uncharacteristically calm tone and his nuanced stance on the Negreira case, contrasting his current approach with the hard line typically taken by the Real Madrid organization.