Jose Mourinho has publicly supported Vinicius as the forward deals with pressure at Real Madrid.
VnExpress reports that the coach praised the Brazilian's resilience during an October 17 press conference. His comments describe support for the player, not a newly announced transfer request.
Praise for staying
The report recalls Vinicius's contribution to Real's Champions League successes alongside more recent inconsistency and criticism from some supporters.
Mourinho said the forward's affection for the club helped explain his decision to remain. He described Vinicius as a positive presence in the dressing room and said they speak privately on a regular basis.
The coach's remarks emphasised the difficulty of maintaining confidence under intense scrutiny.
They were made against the background of a contract extension reported in August, rather than a new departure negotiation.
Substitution was a football decision
Mourinho also addressed Vinicius's withdrawal in the 59th minute against Roma.
He acknowledged disappointment with a loss of possession that contributed to a goal conceded, but said the substitution was one of five changes rather than a punishment.
Real adjusted their approach after Roma targeted one side of the team. Endrick subsequently contributed a goal and an assist to the comeback described in the report.
Mourinho left open the possibility of Vinicius starting against RB Leipzig on October 21.
No confirmed team for that match is announced. The immediate development is the coach's explanation of his tactical decision and his public backing for the player.