Real Madrid are set for a major shake-up in the coming weeks, starting with the appointment of a new manager to replace Alvaro Arbeloa, according to reports from madriduniversal.com. Multiple reliable sources have confirmed that Jose Mourinho is the frontrunner to take over at the Santiago Bernabeu, marking his return to the club 13 years after he left for Chelsea.
However, the sudden announcement of club presidential elections by Florentino Perez has caused a minor delay. Nevertheless, AS reports that Mourinho is very happy and motivated about a potential return. For now, the Portuguese coach remains focused on Benfica and securing Champions League football for next season, but he is not ignoring developments in the Spanish capital.
Mourinho's Motivation Grows
The motivation to say yes to Real Madrid has grown significantly in recent days. Mourinho believes this could be the right moment to help rebuild the club's sporting identity, and his desire to return has intensified. He has publicly stated that his decision will be known next week, just days before the deadline to activate the release clause in his Benfica contract expires.
Mourinho is genuinely pleased with everything happening. He is once again at the centre of attention, and the fact that Florentino has considered him makes him feel that a final, unexpected chapter at Real Madrid is now possible. His departure in 2013 did not happen as he would have liked, and he believes his story at the Bernabeu was left unfinished.
Presidential Elections and Operations
Perez remains as acting president while the electoral process continues. The current board can still make decisions during this period, though strategic moves will likely wait until the elections are resolved. Real Madrid's statutes allow normal operations throughout the presentation of guarantees until a new board is officially appointed.
Mourinho's Plans for the Dressing Room
According to Miguel Serrano, Mourinho has already begun taking steps to win over the dressing room. He has directly spoken to three prominent players: Thibaut Courtois, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Jr. Mourinho is convinced that Vinicius Jr. is his most important man and wants him to be his soldier on the field. He knows of Vinicius's leadership role and believes that if he gets the Brazilian to buy into his project, the squad will follow.
Ironically, Vinicius is the player with whom Mourinho currently shares the most difficult history, especially after their clash in Real Madrid's match against Benfica earlier this season. However, word has come out that Vinicius has agreed to drop the grudge and put the team's needs first. If he is willing to make amends, it will help Mourinho's rumoured plan.
Meanwhile, Mourinho sees Mbappe as the leader of the project. Both Mbappe and Vinicius are set to be integral to his plans once he takes over at Real Madrid.
