Mourinho compares Mbappe and Vini Jr to fruit trees after boos

What the report says

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has defended Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr after both players were booed by sections of the home crowd at the Bernabeu this week. Speaking in comments reported by BBC Sport Football, Mourinho used a Portuguese proverb about throwing stones at fruit-bearing trees to suggest that criticism often falls on the most productive players.

Mbappe scored Real Madrid’s opening goal in Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League win over Inter Milan, while Vinicius also remains a leading figure for the Spanish club. Mourinho said the pair are attracting attention because of what they have achieved and insisted that their statistics and overall output show their importance to the team. He also said Mbappe was working hard defensively and praised the French forward’s attitude.

The BBC report noted that both players have faced scrutiny for perceived defensive shortcomings, and that Real Madrid did not win a trophy last season, which may be contributing to frustration among supporters. Football commentator Guillem Balague told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues podcast that the reaction may also reflect how some fans view the pair, although the exact reasons for the boos remain unclear.

The episode highlights the pressure surrounding Real Madrid’s biggest names and the expectation that their performances be matched by team success.