A comeback that is already running out of steam
Florentino Perez brought Jose Mourinho back to the Real Madrid dugout in June 2026. A deal through to 2029. The president is banking on a reunion with the coach who led the club to three major trophies between 2010 and 2013. But within weeks of his return, the shine is already starting to wear off. Foot Mercato is reporting an early rift between the two men.
Between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup with Real. His fiery style rattled Pep Guardiola’s Barca for two full seasons. That first spell still carries weight in parts of the dressing room and with the fans. Yet even then, his exit in 2013 came amid internal tensions.
Try it for $0.99.
A dressing room that has known little calm
The club has come through a chaotic run on the bench. Xabi Alonso had left his post after internal tensions, fuelled by Vinicius Jr and Fede Valverde. Alvaro Arbeloa then stepped in for a short, messy interim spell, marked by a clash between Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni. Mourinho was supposed to bring stability. The Madrid dressing room has not enjoyed a truly peaceful season for years.
The results are only adding to the nerves. Real Madrid have lost two of their last four matches. The gap to Barca is growing with the Clasico just days away. Perez, already under fire for his recruitment policy, also failed to land Rodri this summer, despite the midfielder being a top priority.
The Clasico as the first real test
The Portuguese coach did not get every signing he asked for before the season started. That has weighed on the early weeks of his reign and brought back memories of past rows between the president and his managers. In Madrid, history moves fast when the results dry up.
Mourinho knows the club better than most. He knows how quickly a Madrid dressing room can turn when the wins stop coming. The Clasico is only days away. A victory would calm things down. Another defeat, and the questions over the Portuguese coach’s start will come flooding back.
Discover the rest of the football news on our site and app mathodds!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply