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Rabat – Florentino Pérez’s preference for bringing José Mourinho back to Real Madrid has stunned Spanish football.
Mourinho’s first tenure at Madrid between 2010 and 2013 was marked by constant controversy. He clashed with journalists, referees, and rival coaches, while also falling out with club figures such as Jorge Valdano, Iker Casillas, and, eventually, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Yet Perez admired his fierce battles against Pep Guardiola’s dominant Barcelona and valued the way Mourinho defended the club against outside criticism.
The president never fully cut ties with him, and the thought of a return has lingered for more than a decade.
Observers close to Perez say he “loves everything about Mourinho, except his style of football,” and that contradiction shows the president’s approach to hiring coaches.
Decisions at Madrid are reportedly often impulsive, based on trust and familiarity rather than long‑term planning. Perez has repeatedly turned to managers he knows well, with Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane both enjoying successful second spells at the Bernabéu.
Decision‑making and Madrid’s managerial instability
While figures such as general director José Angel Sánchez and chief scout Juni Calafat hold influence, Perez ultimately makes the final call.
Sources close to the Real Madrid president described him as “the sporting director,” underlining his dominance in all football matters. He has often ignored outside advice, relying instead on instinct and past experiences.
This instinct has produced mixed results. Pérez has occasionally listened to advisors, as with Julen Lopetegui in 2018 or Xabi Alonso last year, but both were quickly dismissed.
The lack of patience and the demand for immediate success make Madrid one of the toughest jobs in football. Coaches have little say in transfers, stars often challenge authority, and tactical projects rarely get time to develop.
Arbeloa’s current struggles only reinforce the instability. Madrid have won just once in their past six games under him, and Perez is already distancing himself from the decision to appoint the rookie coach.
Mourinho’s Benfica exposed Madrid’s weaknesses in this season’s Champions League, winning convincingly and reigniting talk of his return.
A risky return amid Madrid’s broader problems
Mourinho’s recent comments about Vinícius Junior, after the forward alleged racist abuse in Lisbon, drew heavy criticism. He suggested the Brazilian had provoked the incident, damaging the winger’s image without apparently erasing Pérez’s admiration. Inside Madrid, little was said about the controversy.
For Perez, the timing is delicate. His Super League project has collapsed, the Bernabéu rebuild faces problems, and Barcelona are close to another league title.
Madrid’s squad is unbalanced, heavy in attack but short in defence, and the club is set to finish a second straight season without a major trophy.
Turning back to Mourinho may feel like a familiar solution. His return would bring noise, tension, and division, but also the combative spirit Pérez has always valued.
