Report: Mourinho Mobilizing for Return to Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho is increasingly likely to return to Real Madrid for a second stint at the Bernabeu, according to author and journalist Guillem Balague, who goes as far to suggest his hiring is a matter of when and not if.
Current coach Zinedine Zidane has been under pressure at the start of his own second spell at the helm, failing to live up to the enormous standards of his first when he delivered three Champions League trophies in just two-and-a-half years.
While it doesn’t seem as though Zidane is on the brink of leaving, the possibility of Real pulling the trigger on the Frenchman has become more likely after some uninspired performances and surprise defeats following a summer in which the club spent over $300 million to improve the squad.
Mourinho was first linked with a return to Madrid in January, just a month after he was sacked by Manchester United, and has been one of the major names mentioned every time there are fresh reports about the Real job.
According to Balague, Mourinho ‘thinks [Real] love him’ and wants another chance at the Bernabeu. His first spell yielded La Liga and Copa del Rey success, but no Champions League glory – at that time, Real was still chasing the elusive 10th title in Europe.
Despite speculation linking the Portuguese manager with a host of destinations, including even Tottenham, Balague claims that ‘everything is organized’ for Mourinho’s return to Madrid.
Presumably that means some form of contact with the club and his decision to accept. But Balague also specifies that he has selected his backroom coaching staff. The report also insists that some high-ranking officials at Real have admitted interest in Mourinho, but acknowledges that others have, by contrast, ‘totally denied’ it.
