Real Madrid News
Real Madrid enter final stages of talks with Mourinho; Perez approval still needed – Romano
Although Florentino Perez’s fiery press conference has served as a little distraction over the past 24 hours, Real Madrid are hard at work trying to prepare for the season ahead.
Their first order of business is to bring in a new manager, with Jose Mourinho emerging as the likely candidate.
Real Madrid have been in talks with Mourinho in recent weeks, as they look to bring the Portuguese tactician back to the Santiago Bernabeu, 13 years after his first stint at the club came to an end.
Real Madrid in advanced talks with Mourinho
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has offered an update on Real Madrid’s pursuit of Mourinho, confirming that the club are now in advanced talks with the Portuguese tactician.
Romano adds that talks are progressing well between the two sides, though final approval is required from Florentino Perez.
The Real Madrid president has played a key role in the Mourinho talks, so final approval is unlikely to be an issue.
Mourinho, for his part, is also keen on returning to the Bernabeu, in what could be a significant breakthrough for a manager considered to be past his prime.
Nevertheless, the Mourinho appointment could be impacted by Perez’s abrupt announcement of an election, where the Spaniard is seeking a fresh mandate.
Romano suggests the talks with Mourinho are going well, but the final approval may have to wait until the elections are out of the way. This is quite interesting given that not much is known regarding the timeline of the Real Madrid elections.
Not to mention, the entire process could take some time, which is not ideal, as Real Madrid would ideally want to close the appointment of a new manager before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Real Madrid News
La Liga icon tears into Real Madrid forwards after Rayo Vallecano win: ‘This isn’t competitive’
Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano may have delivered another three points, but Santiago Canizares believes the result is hiding a problem that could eventually cost Jose Mourinho’s side against stronger opposition.
The former Spain and Valencia goalkeeper was particularly critical of Real Madrid’s work without the ball, arguing that their attacking players are not doing enough defensively.
His comments came after a match that produced two very different versions of Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Canizares questions Real Madrid’s defensive effort
Mourinho? No—the issue is not the manager. Madrid produced a brilliant first half, scoring three times and earning an enthusiastic standing ovation.
Yet the mood changed dramatically after the interval, when Rayo caused problems, and the home crowd eventually responded with boos.
The La Liga icon believes that contrast exposes a tactical weakness rather than being simply an off-day.
“Madrid have one thing – the best quality a team can have – and that is effectiveness; there’s no doubt about that,” he said, before adding that “if a team wants to be the best in Europe, it has to be able to play in different styles.”
For Canizares, the biggest concern starts with Real Madrid’s forwards.
“When they don’t have the ball, what the strikers do is appalling. It’s contagious.
“One looks at the other, the other looks at the other, and thinks, ‘Ah, well, if he’s not moving, neither am I’,” he argued.
A warning beyond the Rayo result
Notably, that lack of pressure can leave the rest of the team exposed. The midfield is forced deeper, the defence becomes easier to reach, and opponents are given opportunities that should not exist in the first place.
“The team falls apart; the midfielders have to drop back, link up with the defence, and any team can create chances against Real Madrid.
“This isn’t competitive, and it needs to be sorted out. If you don’t do this all year round, then on the day you actually have to do it, you might not do it quite right.”
That assessment is difficult to dismiss after what happened in the second half.
Rayo may have ultimately lost comfortably on the scoreboard, but Madrid surrendered the control they had established before the break.
Arda Guler provides a timely reminder
Arda Guler’s introduction was the biggest talking point in the game.
The Turkish midfielder helped restore some of Madrid’s attacking rhythm after Rayo had begun to gain confidence.
The 4-1 scoreline therefore gives Madrid the points Mourinho wanted, but not necessarily the complete performance he would have demanded.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
