The Portuguese coach has approved five summer signings, including Bernardo Silva and Yan Diomande, and will have total freedom to decide on departures.
José Mourinho has taken absolute control of the Real Madrid squad for the 2026-2027 season. The Portuguese coach, who began his second spell at the club last June, has the full trust of the board to decide on both arrivals and departures. All operations carried out to date at Valdebebas have received his approval, according to internal sources at the club.
The first significant move was the signing of Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese international was practically set to transfer to Atlético de Madrid, but Mourinho's direct intervention managed to turn the situation around and convince his compatriot to sign for Real Madrid. The deal was completed within days, surprising those around the rojiblanco.
In defence, the club has brought in three players to strengthen the backline: Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, and Ibrahima Konaté. Cucurella was the first to arrive, just as the World Cup began, while Dumfries and Konaté were secured during the electoral campaign. All these signings received Mourinho's approval before being formalised.
The last operation to be completed was that of Yan Diomande, a young Ivorian defender who was about to sign with PSG. On Sunday, Real Madrid intervened in the negotiations, and with the help of chief scout Juni Calafat and Mourinho himself, managed to convince the player to change his destination. The Portuguese coach had already followed Diomande during the World Cup and approved the swift operation.
The trust placed in Mourinho by the presidency is total. The club's hierarchy believes that the Portuguese is the best way to restore greatness to Real Madrid, as he did during his first spell when he returned the competitive edge to the team in Europe. After two years without major titles, the aim is for Mourinho to turn a group of stars into a winning team.
The coach will also play a decisive role in the outgoing operations. Two confirmed departures have already occurred: Dani Ceballos and Fran García, who have left the club with the coach's approval. Mourinho will decide who he counts on and who he does not for the upcoming season, and more movements are expected in the coming weeks.
Thus, Real Madrid 2026-2027 will be an author team, with Mourinho's stamp not only on the playing style and character he wants to instil but also in the squad configuration. The Portuguese has started this second spell as a man of the house, with absolute freedom to build his team, and all decisions made this summer have had his endorsement.
For Real Madrid fans, this bet on Mourinho means regaining the figure of a coach with real power over the squad, something not seen since Zinedine Zidane's era. The board hopes that this formula will return the club to the path of titles, something it has not achieved since the 2023-2024 season.
Mourinho's next challenge will be to define the starting eleven for the pre-season, which will begin in the coming weeks. With signings already secured and departures underway, the Portuguese coach has the tools to build the team in his own image and likeness.
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