Morientes gives his opinion on Vinicius: “It’s a lost cause”

Former Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes has shared his opinion on Vinicius Junior, who is going through a complicated start to the new season despite remaining one of the club’s most important attacking players.

While Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham have started the campaign in impressive fashion, the same cannot quite be said about Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian winger has struggled to reach his usual level in Real Madrid’s opening matches, with his performances raising questions about both his form and his attitude on the pitch.

Vinicius endured a particularly difficult opening game against Espanyol Barcelona. The Brazilian was constantly challenged physically by opposition defenders and also had to deal with a hostile atmosphere from the stands. Normally capable of responding to that kind of pressure with decisive actions, Vinicius struggled to make his usual impact.

He found it difficult to beat defenders in one-on-one situations, rarely managed to use his pace effectively and lost possession on several occasions. His frustration was also visible throughout the match, something that has become an increasingly discussed topic around the player.

The situation improved slightly against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu. Vinicius registered a goal and an assist, but his overall performance remained below the standards expected from one of Real Madrid’s attacking leaders.

Despite his statistical contribution, the Brazilian once again struggled to consistently create danger. His dribbling was less effective than usual, his acceleration did not cause as many problems for defenders and he gave the ball away too frequently.

There was, however, one encouraging moment. When Vinicius left the pitch, the Santiago Bernabéu crowd gave him a warm ovation. That show of support could prove important mentally for a player who has been under considerable pressure in recent months.

Former Real Madrid players Fernando Morientes and Santiago Cañizares discussed Vinicius’ situation during an appearance on Spanish radio station COPE. Their conversation focused not only on his football performances but also on his behaviour and emotional reactions during matches.

Cañizares compared the situation to a natural process of maturity.

🗣️ Morientes se sincera sobre la actitud de Vinícius

😕 "Lo veo como una causa perdida"

📻 #PartidazoCOPEhttps://t.co/8EVCd2NTgn

— El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) August 25, 2026

“Players go through a process of maturity, just like children. Some mature earlier and others later,” the former Real Madrid goalkeeper explained.

Morientes largely agreed with that assessment, although his comments were even more critical.

“Today, I agree with Cañizares. I see him as a lost cause in that sense, and I believe that this is actually the way he motivates himself,” Morientes said when discussing Vinicius’ reactions on the pitch.

The former Real Madrid striker appears to believe that confrontation has become part of Vinicius’ competitive personality. The Brazilian frequently interacts with opponents, referees and supporters, especially during tense matches, and those situations often attract as much attention as his football.

For Morientes, however, changing that aspect of his behaviour could considerably reduce the pressure surrounding the Brazilian international.

He explained that if Vinicius managed to improve his reactions and remain more focused on the football itself, the media attention and external pressure surrounding him would “decrease considerably.”

That may now be one of the challenges facing both Vinicius and Real Madrid manager José Mourinho. The Brazilian remains an extraordinarily talented player and one of the most dangerous attackers in world football when he is at his best.

However, Real Madrid will need him to recover the explosiveness, confidence and efficiency that have defined his best performances in recent seasons.

With Mbappé and Bellingham already producing decisive performances, Vinicius will also be aware that expectations are extremely high. The ovation he received at the Bernabéu showed that supporters remain behind him.

Now, the Brazilian must respond on the pitch and rediscover the version of himself capable of deciding matches almost single-handedly.