The Portuguese manager tends to lose his temper sometime in his second season as manager, but now even before he has really started in earnest.
The “Rodri fade” has consequences
José Mourinho is furious. The Portuguese coach has come out strongly against Real Madrid’s sporting management after Rodri’s transfer went down the drain – and the midfielder is now closer to Barcelona than ever.
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According to journalist Sergio Valentín, Mourinho is hugely disappointed that the club rejected all his alternative proposals for midfield, and at the same time failed to secure the Spanish international. Now the team is without the desired playmaker – just 14 days before the start of the season.
Why Mourinho is so angry
The frustration stems from how the Madrid management has handled the planning for the 2026/2027 season. Mourinho was crystal clear that the team needed a creative midfielder, and presented a list of several candidates. One by one, they were rejected by the board – who instead assured him that they would sign Rodri from Manchester City.
It was a solution Mourinho had approved. But when the transfer didn’t happen, he was left with empty hands – and a team without the control he wants.
Tchouaméni on the bench creates further excitement
Mourinho’s demand for a new midfielder is closely linked to his tactical assessment of Aurélien Tchouaméni. The Portuguese believes the 26-year-old Frenchman does not have the necessary skills to control the ball distribution in the team. Therefore, he wanted a completely different type of profile in the middle.
With neither Rodri nor any of Mourinho’s alternative wishes in place, the tension in the club’s corridors has risen considerably. Mourinho will now have to start the season without the piece he considered crucial to his system.
Crisis meeting this weekend
Now the Real Madrid leaders are calling for an emergency meeting with Mourinho over the weekend. There, they will discuss the way forward in the market – and decide how to handle the situation.
Either Mourinho has to accept a reasonable emergency solution in midfield – or he has to start the series with the players he already has. In any case, the situation is far from optimal. And one thing is certain: the relationship between Mourinho and the management is more strained than it has been for a long time.
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