Real Madrid manager-in-waiting already working behind the scenes at Valdebebas – report

Real Madrid manager-in-waiting already working behind the scenes at Valdebebas – report The official announcement may not have arrived yet, but within Valdebebas, Real Madrid are already operating as though Jose Mourinho’s return is confirmed. According to Mundo Deportivo , the Portuguese coach has begun working on plans for the 2026/27 season despite not yet being formally unveiled by the club.  The report claims Mourinho has already returned to Real Madrid’s training complex, where discussions regarding the squad, transfer strategy and long-term planning have started alongside key figures such as Jose Angel Sanchez and chief scout Juni Calafat. Mourinho has a plan in place The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager is said to have made squad reinforcement a key condition before accepting the role.  While the arrivals of Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries have already strengthened the team, the work is far from complete. Mourinho has already started working at Real Madrid. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images) Real Madrid continue to explore further additions , especially in defence, as they look to build a squad capable of competing on every front next season.  Mourinho’s involvement in those discussions is already active, showing the level of influence he is expected to have during this new chapter at the Santiago Bernabeu. Interestingly, as reported before, one of the first disagreements between Mourinho and the club hierarchy has already surfaced.  The issue centres around Real Madrid’s unsuccessful €150 million approach for Julian Alvarez, a move that Atletico Madrid rejected and one Mourinho had no prior knowledge of. Mourinho to have bigger influence While much of the attention surrounding Mourinho’s return focuses on potential arrivals, his impact on departures could be equally significant. Mourinho has a huge task at hand. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images) The Portuguese coach is expected to play a decisive role in determining which players remain part of the project and which players move on.  According to the rep orts, the likes of Dani Ceballos, Fran Garcia and Raul Asencio are among the names whose futures could come under scrutiny once Mourinho completes his evaluation of the squad.  There is also the case of Franco Mastantuono. However, unlike other potential departures, Real Madrid view the Argentine youngster as a long-term asset.  The preferred solution would be a loan move that allows him to gain valuable experience and regular minutes at a high level elsewhere in Europe before returning to the Spanish capital.