Serie A legend Thuram hits back at Mourinho over racism row: ‘A small man’ | OneFootball

Former Serie A star Lilian Thuram says José Mourinho became a ‘small man’ by brushing off Real Madrid’s complaints about alleged racist abuse directed at Vinicius Junior.

Tuesday’s Champions League encounter between Real Madrid and Benfica in Portugal was marred by claims that Benfica prospect Gianluca Prestianni aimed racist remarks at Vinicius Jr.

The Benfica player denied accusations, and his coach, Mourinho, protected him at full-time and appeared to blame Vini Jr. instead.

“I told him: ‘When you score a goal like that, you just celebrate and walk back.’ They [Vinícius and Prestianni] told me different things. But I don’t believe in one or another. I want to be an independent,” Mourinho told Prime Video via The Guardian.

“There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. A stadium where Vinícius plays, something always happens.”

Ex-Serie A star Thuram, a 1998 World Cup winner with France and the father of Serie A stars Marcus (Inter) and Kehphren (Juventus), hit back at the Portuguese in an interview with L’Equipe.

“The nature of his statements explains the reasons why progress isn’t being made. Mourinho is a great coach with an exceptional career,” Thuram said.

Thuram sees ‘sense of superiority and white narcissism’ in Mourinho’s comments

TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 21: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Benfica, looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Juventus and SL Benfica at Juventus Stadium on January 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“He has worked with many black players, and yet that doesn’t stop him, first, from doubting the nature of a racist act and, second, from questioning the victim’s responsibility. Vinicius, in this case, because of the way he celebrates a goal.

“How can he say something like that? Who is Mourinho to decide what Vinicius can or cannot do? In Mourinho’s judgment, there is a sense of superiority and white narcissism.

“The racist act against Vinicius was not related to his behaviour, but to the colour of his skin,” Thuram continued.

“Mourinho suggested that Vinicius might be at fault, that he brought it on himself. This is total violence. His feeling of superiority that some white people have prevents them from putting themselves in the victim’s shoes. A bit more humility would be needed.

PARMA, ITALY – APRIL 05: Lilian Thuram, former Parma Calcio player, looks on from the stands prior to the Serie A match between Parma and FC Internazionale at Stadio Ennio Tardini on April 05, 2025, in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“A bit more humility would be needed. And how can Mourinho ignore what the players themselves say? Are Vinicius and Mbappé crazy? Are black people paranoid, inventing stories? It’s pathetic that Mourinho makes it seem as if Vinicius is responsible for the racism he endures.

“By doing so, he becomes a small man. As long as behaviours like this persist, we will not move forward together in this fight, and that is also part of the history of racism. Mourinho does not analyse the racist act as a human being, but as a white man.”