Real Madrid’s decision to bring back Jose Mourinho was expected to deliver immediate success, but the club’s new season has begun with the team fourth in La Liga and already six points behind Barcelona.
The Portuguese was formally appointed on 1 July 2026, during the decisive stages of the World Cup. That created the unusual possibility of players starting a tournament as members of one club and finishing a match having moved to another.
Marc Cucurella was among those to change teams, leaving Chelsea for Real Madrid. The biggest deal of the window, however, saw 19-year-old winger Yan Diomande arrive from RB Leipzig for 125m euros. That fee made him the most expensive signing in Real Madrid’s history.
Diomande had played 292 minutes for his new club before the international break, providing one assist. Real Madrid’s total spending since Mourinho’s appointment reached 225m euros, compared with Barcelona’s 184m euros during the transfer window.
Expectations of trophies
Mourinho’s return was intended to restore a winning culture at the club. His most recent trophy came with Roma in the 2021-22 season, when he won the relatively modest Europa Conference League.
His second spell at Real Madrid was therefore always likely to be judged against demanding standards. During his first tenure, Mourinho won all of Spain’s major domestic trophies. Club officials viewed his return as a route back to success in domestic and international competitions after two seasons without a major title.
Instead, Real Madrid suffered a surprise defeat by Real Betis in the fourth round of the league, while Barcelona made a dominant start against their opponents.
The final league match before the international break brought another setback as Real Madrid lost 2-1 to city rivals Atletico Madrid. That result dropped them to fourth in La Liga and left them six points behind Barcelona. The two sides meet on 25 October, although Real Madrid could fall even further behind before then.
Mourinho targets referees
After the defeat by Atletico, Mourinho arrived at his news conference carrying photographs of incidents he believed should have resulted in opposition players being sent off. He also criticised VAR, saying the referee had not been asked to review any of the incidents.
Real Madrid’s official account later posted a message stating: “A terrible refereeing decision decides the derby.” Mourinho also referred to controversial decisions from previous matches, including games not involving Real Madrid.
The focus on officiating has been interpreted as a way of diverting attention from problems within the team. Real Madrid players have covered less ground than any of the other 20 La Liga clubs after the matches played so far.
Former Real Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele is among those to say the side lacks a “clear game plan and understanding between the players and the coach”. The club also has yet to find a solution in central midfield, with no obvious replacement for Toni Kroos or Luka Modric.
Those individual problems have combined to leave Real Madrid fourth in the league. Mourinho’s appointment was designed to revive the era of the Galacticos, with a strong manager imposing order. It could produce rapid success, but it could also lead to a complete dressing-room breakdown by the end of the season. At present, the second outcome appears possible.
