Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho and the club’s hierarchy remain fully aligned despite the failure to sign Rodri, with no disagreement developing over the midfielder’s decision to choose Barcelona.
Spanish newspaper AS reports that Mourinho’s relationship with the club’s senior figures has been based on complete understanding and open communication since his return to the Santiago Bernabeu. The Portuguese manager is said to have maintained a particularly direct dialogue with sporting director Jose Angel Sanchez and his assistant Juni Calafat.
Those discussions date back to a decisive meeting held at Madrid’s Santo Mauro hotel in late April, when president Florentino Perez concluded that bringing Mourinho back was the best option to lead the club’s sporting project.
Mourinho has been working under conditions he favours, with broad authority to identify transfer targets and outline the squad’s needs. However, he has not placed unreasonable demands on the board. Instead, he has presented his footballing vision from the beginning in an atmosphere described as one of mutual respect and complete trust.
Several recruitment issues were examined during meetings involving Mourinho, Sanchez and Calafat. The names discussed included Denzel Dumfries and Bernardo Silva, whose ability to operate in several roles was considered valuable. The club also looked at strengthening central defence and midfield, while recognising the need to bring greater pace to the attack.
According to the report, those discussions were not marked by a single moment of tension.
Rodri became a prominent subject after his impressive display at the most recent World Cup. All parties accepted that the Spain midfielder could have been a valuable addition to Real Madrid, but he ultimately chose Barcelona’s proposal. There was no final agreement with either the player or Manchester City, and serious negotiations with his club never took place.
The board accepted the outcome, as did Mourinho, who has not attempted to create a crisis despite suggestions to the contrary. The manager is aware that three weeks remain before the summer transfer window closes and that staff at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex are working hard to assemble a squad capable of challenging for every major honour.
Mourinho had himself argued at the Santo Mauro meeting that Real Madrid should pursue Bernardo Silva, explaining that the Portugal international could operate as a creative midfielder. Two months after that meeting, Silva has become one of the key figures in the team, which the report says has reinforced Mourinho’s assessment.
Rodri’s move to Barcelona has not closed the possibility of Real Madrid signing another midfielder. The club will continue to review the position until the transfer window shuts on 31 August. However, Mourinho and the board do not currently believe the market offers a player with exceptional enough qualities to justify a major investment.
The coaching and sporting departments are continuing their work calmly and confidently. Their current options include Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni, who are viewed as capable of forming a strong midfield pairing. The club is also waiting for greater clarity over Eduardo Camavinga, who has faced criticism over his level of performance.
Mourinho has established his own rules for daily life at the training ground, introducing a strict system and exercising complete control in keeping with his management philosophy. The Portuguese is said to be happy with what he regards as a return to his true home.
He has also adopted a direct approach with every player. That clarity is appreciated even by those who are not expected to feature in his plans once the transfer window closes. His method is based on straightforward dialogue rather than anger or tension, while recognising that more difficult periods will arrive when the pressure of genuine competition increases.
