Mourinho's early imprint at Valdebebas fuels Real Madrid optimism

Jose Mourinho officially began his second spell as manager of Real Madrid this week at the club’s Valdebebas training ground, and the Portuguese tactician’s impact was immediate, overseeing the first training sessions and securing the signing of left‑back Marc Cucurella. The club’s hierarchy praised the early impact, noting Mourinho’s hands‑on methods. Executives expressed delight with his attitude and leadership during the first days back. According to Mundo Deportivo, Los Blancos are very pleased and impressed by the impact that their new manager has already made at the club. The newspaper highlighted the rapid assimilation of Mourinho’s methods during the opening days of pre‑season. Since being confirmed as the new manager in June, Mourinho has played an active role in shaping the squad, contributing to both incoming and outgoing transfers. One clear example was his direct involvement in convincing Marc Cucurella to join the club.

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Back on the training pitch at Valdebebas, Mourinho spent long hours preparing sessions and closely overseeing every aspect of the team’s work. His trademark intensity was evident as he constantly interrupted drills to make corrections, demanded greater concentration, and stepped in during goalkeeping exercises. Club leadership is fully behind Mourinho; senior executives view his appointment as the ideal opportunity to restore discipline and unity after internal disagreements, notably the tensions between Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde.

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One of his first changes has been requiring players to arrive at Valdebebas almost two hours before training sessions begin, raising standards of professionalism and preparation. Yet the real test lies ahead, as many of Real Madrid’s biggest stars – Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham – have yet to return from their post‑World Cup break, demanding Mourinho to manage personalities and prioritize the collective. Club officials acknowledge the scale of that challenge but remain convinced they have appointed the right manager, believing his experience, authority and personality can unite a dressing room full of elite talent and restore a winning culture.