José Mourinho Takes Charge of Real Madrid

José Mourinho is the other big winner from the Real Madrid elections. Florentino Pérez's triumph at the polls automatically makes him the new coach of the 'White Ballet'. The only condition for Mourinho to take charge of the team was Pérez's victory. Now that it's a fact, the Portuguese specialist's return, 13 years after his departure in 2013, is also confirmed.

Similar to Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti, Mourinho's story at the helm of Real Madrid will have a second chapter, after his first three-season stint brought three trophies: a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey, and a Spanish Super Cup.

The coach's presentation will take place soon. Before that, however, Madrid must pay Benfica a €15 million compensation fee to release Mourinho. This sum underwent significant changes. Initially, securing the coach cost €7 million, but the delay in the operation due to the scheduled elections forced Real to pay more than double, according to “Marca”.

Following Florentino Pérez's election victory and the payment of the clause, Mourinho will be able to get to work. He will do so without wasting time, as the election process has already cost him valuable days. A lot of work lies ahead, as a serious squad overhaul is expected at Real Madrid. Just like when he arrived in 2010, the club is in a very delicate sporting situation, and restructuring demands immediate success. The revolution must be accompanied by trophies, and that will be no easy task.

Squad Restructuring

Mourinho will need to sit down with management to finalize the team's composition. Currently, two new players, Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries, have been agreed upon, and Antonio Rüdiger's contract renewal is also secured. With these three moves, Real Madrid largely restores its defensive backbone, with decisions still pending on whether to bring in another central defender and what to do about the left-back position. The arrival of new players will also be accompanied by departures. Dani Carvajal and David Alaba are already out of the squad, and Dani Ceballos's exit is considered certain. The future of players like Fran García, Raúl Asensio, Gonzalo García, Eduardo Camavinga, Franco Mastantuono, and Brahim Díaz remains to be decided. Depending on who leaves, Madrid will work on the remaining additions to complete the puzzle of the new squad.

Florentino Pérez announced that he has prepared a €150 million gift for Mourinho in the form of a superstar to add sparkle to the new sporting project. Furthermore, there's an open window for proposals from the Portuguese coach, who, during his first spell, championed personal bets like Özil, Khedira, Di María, and Carvalho. After Konaté, Dumfries, and the €150 million 'galáctico', the club is expected to sign three or four more players. Some of these are already on Madrid's radar, such as Nico Paz, Jacobo Ramón, and Víctor Muñoz. Mourinho will also have to decide on the future of youth players with first-team potential like Thiago Pitarch, Joan Martínez, and Diego Aguado.

Fitness Issues and Medical Staff

Mourinho's work isn't limited to the squad alone. He will also need to address other sporting aspects that directly impact team performance and were at the eye of the storm last season. The two most problematic areas were physical conditioning and medical services. These were two issues that plagued the team throughout the season and caused friction between Xabi Alonso and the club. Dissatisfaction at the top was evident, and after bringing in Dr. Niko Mihic as medical supervisor mid-season, the club did the same shortly after with Antonio Pintus, who once again took control of physical preparation after Xabi Alonso's departure. Injuries were a real nightmare for Real and limited the team's capabilities: 58 injuries and 20 injured players last season.

Mourinho and a Figure Close to the Team

The change in sports management might not be limited to Mourinho's arrival on the coaching bench. The inclusion of a figure close to the team is also being discussed. The idea is for a position similar to a 'team manager'. This role is very similar to what Zidane briefly performed during Mourinho's first stint. The Frenchman, who was a presidential advisor after Pérez's return in 2009, then took on a role closer to the team, serving as a link between the squad and the club, assisting the coach and conveying the needs and concerns of the players and the dressing room as a whole. Mourinho is reportedly keen on reinstating this figure upon his return to Madrid.

Mourinho inherits a divided dressing room after an escalation of tension among players that built up throughout the season. The conflict reached its peak with the altercation between Valverde and Tchouaméni. Clashes, both among the players themselves and between players and coaches, have worsened the atmosphere at Valdebebas. Undoubtedly, this is one of the main reasons for Mourinho's return, chosen by Florentino Pérez to restore order to the team.

H.L. Calderón, “Marca”