Vinicius Junior will be absent when Real Madrid visit Valencia at Mestalla on Saturday, 7 November 2026, with the Brazil international serving the final game of a four-match suspension.
The forward was banned after being sent off and then protesting during Real Madrid’s match against Villarreal at Santiago Bernabeu on 10 October. According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the punishment has been viewed by people at the club’s Valdebebas training ground, including Vinicius himself, as excessive and disproportionate to the incident.
Saturday’s fixture will be the final match in which Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho is unable to call on the left winger. Vinicius’ relationship with Valencia supporters has been particularly difficult, making his absence notable given the tension that has surrounded his previous visits to Mestalla.
The Brazilian has previously accused Valencia fans of racist abuse. The incident was later included in a documentary, prompting anger among supporters of the Spanish club.
Vinicius has also been sent off in two of his last three appearances at Mestalla. Both matches were played in a highly charged atmosphere, with the Real Madrid player and the home crowd involved in repeated confrontations.
Instead of being in either Valencia or Madrid for the game, Vinicius is currently in Dubai. The city is approximately 6,000km away from Spain by air, and his visit forms part of a commercial agreement between Real Madrid and the Emirate of Dubai.
The Brazil international is using his stay in the Middle East to film a series of tourism advertisements promoting Dubai. The work is covered by an agreement Real Madrid signed with the emirate in 2023.
Real Madrid players regularly travel to Dubai for various promotional events, but the timing of Vinicius’ suspension has created an opportunity for him to complete this particular visit without affecting his club commitments.
He is expected to travel directly from Dubai to join Brazil’s training camp ahead of the international break, which begins on Monday. Brazil will play Japan on 14 November and Singapore on 17 November.
Both destinations are closer to Dubai than Madrid, allowing Vinicius to move on to the national-team camp after completing his commercial duties. His absence at Mestalla therefore coincides with the final match of his suspension and a pre-arranged promotional programme linked to Real Madrid’s partnership with Dubai.
