Real Madrid’s season may not yet be over, but this is already the second campaign without silverware. And it’s not just the lack of trophies that makes the season look ugly — the scandals surrounding the squad have only added fuel to the fire.
As is well known, Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni allegedly came to blows in the dressing room, with the former suffering a cut to his forehead, ruling him out for ten days. Both players received fines of 500,000 each, and it appears that Valverde may now be placed on the transfer list. Personally, if push came to shove, I’d rather put Tchouaméni up for sale, as the Uruguayan midfielder possesses an enormous work rate and has scored some stunning goals over the past few years.
Reportedly, the fallout with Xabi Alonso stemmed from Valverde’s refusal to play as a right-back, and he may have been one of the figures who contributed to the Spanish manager’s departure. Vinícius Júnior could be the other, having apparently worked against Xabi behind the scenes — one need only recall his behaviour during the first El Clásico of the season.
Enter José Mourinho
It appears that José Mourinho could be the key figure in restoring order to the dressing room. He has reportedly held talks with Florentino Pérez in recent times and has publicly expressed his desire to return to Madrid. After all, he never managed to win the Champions League with the club, and that remains an itch he’s never quite scratched.
🚨 Despite public statements, José Mourinho, his camp and Real Madrid have been in direct talks for weeks over the Special One’s comeback.
The discussions remain underway and will continue soon. Mou’s return is 100% on.
It’s up to Florentino Pérez.
🎥 https://t.co/7DnntOrvmw pic.twitter.com/y7Z7Jrzk8i
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 11, 2026
Pérez, however, is reluctant to burn himself again on a managerial appointment. And Mourinho is hardly a manager short on personality. The Portuguese won’t be playing the nice guy — he will demand discipline and full commitment from his players. Some, however, won’t take kindly to that. If Vinícius Júnior dozed off under Xabi’s management, he may well find himself learning what it feels like to warm the bench under José.
The supporters would likely have no objection to Mourinho shaking things up, so long as the results follow. Personally, I found it difficult to stomach how he treated Iker Casillas — though, of course, there are details I’m not privy to.
What Could Mourinho Actually Do?
Let’s let our imaginations run a little and consider what sort of changes Mourinho might bring. Here’s a brief look at how the players have fared this season.
Courtois: The Belgian goalkeeper hasn’t been at his best this season and has again missed spells through injury, yet he remains an excellent keeper regardless. I’d expect him to hold onto the number one shirt under Mourinho — unless injury dictates otherwise.
Lunin: The Ukrainian stopper has done a reasonable job deputising for his Belgian counterpart, though he hasn’t kept goal quite as well as he did the season prior. Rumours suggest he’d like to step out of Courtois’s shadow and find a club where he can be the undisputed first choice. Mourinho would likely have no reason to stand in his way if he wished to leave.
Alaba: The Austrian defender featured in just nine matches this season, and his contract is expiring shortly. He will almost certainly not be part of the squad next year. It’s been something of a disappointment that he played so little during his time in Madrid, plagued as he was by persistent injuries.
Asencio: A somewhat mixed season — he had his moments, both good and bad, and did manage to find the net twice. Under Mourinho, he’ll either kick on significantly or find himself confined to the bench.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: He dealt with injuries on several occasions throughout the season, yet still managed 19 appearances, contributing four assists. Mourinho could well get more out of him.
Carreras: The recently signed defender registered two goals and two assists across 26 matches. There have been reports of issues with his attitude during the season, though this may simply be rumour — or perhaps the managerial upheaval didn’t suit him either.
Carvajal: Fourteen appearances and a forgettable campaign. He is currently nursing an injury and will bow out in his final season without a trophy to show for it. The poor showing has dented his reputation somewhat, though 23 years at Real Madrid is no small thing.
Militão: Sixteen matches, two goals, and one assist. The Brazilian defender played well when fit, but injuries came thick and fast once again, preventing him from seeing out a proper season. Hopefully, he’ll return to full fitness next year and emerge as a defensive leader under Mourinho.
Rüdiger: Seventeen appearances and one goal for the German centre-back, with questions about a new contract cropping up throughout the season. The ongoing defensive problems may give him one last chance to prove himself. With Mourinho’s arrival, he’ll need to be more disciplined if he wants to hold down a starting berth.
Huijsen: His first season at the club didn’t look bad, all things considered. It could have been better, naturally, but the foundations simply weren’t there — given Xabi’s dismissal, the constant defensive disruptions meant he never really had the chance to build a proper understanding with those around him. I think Mourinho could make a proper player of him.
Fran García: Somewhat surprisingly, he made twelve appearances, scoring once and laying on one assist. During the January transfer window, it seemed Tottenham were ready to take him, but the chairman ultimately blocked the move. He’s barely been seen on the pitch since — perhaps a touch sulky about the whole affair.
Mendy: Just five appearances this season, with yet more injury woes. His future at the club also looks increasingly uncertain.
Bellingham: Twenty-five matches, four goals, and four assists. Jude returned to the fold later in the season following surgery, and perhaps Xabi wasn’t in any great rush to restore him to the starting line-up, given how well the team had been functioning without him. Naturally, more will be expected of him next year — the question is whether he can fall into line under Mourinho’s management.
Camavinga: Twenty-seven appearances and one goal — not his finest season by any stretch. Whether Mourinho will want him remains to be seen, or whether he’ll look to refresh the squad with new faces.
Ceballos: Fifteen appearances, mostly under Xabi Alonso — under Arbeloa, he seemed to fall off the radar entirely, reportedly following a falling-out that saw him dropped from the squad. Neither manager has truly counted on him, and in all likelihood, José wouldn’t go out of his way to keep him if his work ethic remained questionable. He’s had a bit-part role in recent years, though when he has played, he’s been decent enough. Perhaps Real Madrid is simply too big a stage for him.
Brahim Díaz: The Moroccan attacker registered five assists across 27 appearances. He shone at the Africa Cup of Nations, yet struggled to nail down a regular starting spot in Madrid. I believe Mourinho could reshape him too, and he may well be handed a more prominent role under the Portuguese manager.
Güler: The young Turkish midfielder seized his opportunity following the departures of Kroos and Modrić, clocking up four goals and nine assists in 32 matches. He was the engine of the team this season — scoring from the halfway line and producing outstanding through balls. If he can build on that further under Mourinho, he’ll be virtually undroppable.
Pitarch: The young Spaniard was handed his chance following Arbeloa’s appointment and went on to make eight appearances. In most of those matches, he covered every blade of grass and performed admirably. The question is how much Mourinho will look to involve the youngsters. If I had to guess, I’d say he’ll be sent out on loan — to Como or another Italian or Spanish club — to continue his development.
Tchouaméni: The Frenchman scored once in 31 appearances — a relatively improved campaign by his own standards, though the long-term consequences of his altercation with Valverde remain to be seen. Will it be Mourinho or Pérez who ultimately decides his fate?
Valverde: The Uruguayan recorded five goals and eight assists across 32 matches. He spent the first half of the season operating as a right-back before being shifted back into midfield. His performances on the pitch have been convincing to me — he runs himself into the ground and gives absolutely everything for the badge.
Gonzalo García: The Spanish striker came into the spotlight during the Club World Cup, finishing as top scorer even though Real fell short of the final. He made 27 appearances throughout the season, contributing four goals and one assist, stepping up primarily in Mbappé’s absence. Mourinho is unlikely to count on him going forward — a far more experienced number nine is expected to come in.
Mastantuono: The newly acquired Argentine made 20 appearances and found the net once. Perhaps he was thrown in at the deep end a touch too early at the start of the season, though whether that was Xabi’s call or Pérez imposing his will on the manager is debatable. He still has plenty of developing to do and needs time to adjust to La Liga — I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he were sent out on loan next season to gain experience and playing time.
Mbappé: The French striker scored 24 goals and provided four assists in 28 appearances. I still get the sense that he and his teammates haven’t quite found their rhythm together, and Xabi’s dismissal didn’t seem to sit well with him either. More recently, a scandal has erupted in the capital over his holiday in Italy. An alleged petition has seen some 30 million people calling for him to be shown the door. Getting on the same wavelength as the attacking unit will be one of Mourinho’s chief priorities.
Rodrygo: The Brazilian forward finally brought a lengthy goalless run to an end this season. Across 19 appearances, he managed just one goal, though he did contribute three assists. He saw little game time at the start of the season and was then sidelined for an extended spell through injury. Rodrygo may well find himself squeezed out of the Madrid squad altogether — Vinícius holds down the left flank (where Mbappé would also rather be), while the right side belongs to the newly signed Mastantuono, assuming he isn’t sent out on loan. And let’s not forget that Mbappé has occasionally popped up on the right wing too, with Gonzalo leading the line.
Vinícius Júnior: 34 appearances, 15 goals, and 5 assists — yet the season will likely be remembered for his tantrum against Barcelona and his unfulfilled promise that he’d “do it ten times better if needed.” It seems that when Mbappé is off the pitch, and he focuses on his football, he can be a genuine leader for the side. However, the years have shown that he is easily wound up, and he too often channels his energy into quarrels and theatrics rather than the game itself. Voices within the club have begun to suggest that perhaps the time has come for the two parties to go their separate ways.
Mourinho faces an enormous task, yet the Portuguese has never shied away from a challenge. His career had been on something of a downward trajectory in recent years, but he has managed to rebuild himself at Benfica, and this “last dance” in Madrid could yet provide him with the closure he’s been seeking.
