Jose Mourinho remains fully aligned with Real Madrid’s hierarchy despite the club missing out on Rodri, with the Portuguese manager confident the team can be strengthened into a competitive side during the current summer transfer window.
Mourinho is said to be happy with his return to Real Madrid, the club he wanted to work for, under conditions he accepts and alongside players selected for his new project.
Since Florentino Perez decided in late April that Mourinho’s return was the best option for Real Madrid, the manager and the club’s leadership have maintained a close and constructive relationship.
That understanding continued last week, despite reports of a mysterious dispute surrounding the proposed deal for Rodri. According to Spanish newspaper AS, the situation inside the club was considerably calmer than the coverage outside it suggested.
The relationship between Mourinho, Jose Angel Sanchez and Juni Calafat has remained direct and transparent since a meeting between the three men at the Santo Mauro Hotel in Madrid. A range of issues concerning the future of the squad were discussed during that meeting.
Mourinho identified players he wanted to sign and also informed some members of the squad personally that they were not part of his plans. Those decisions, however, were made in agreement with the board and did not lead to any genuine breakdown in relations between the manager and the club’s officials.
Among the subjects considered were a possible move for Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva’s versatility and his ability to operate in several positions, and the need to strengthen both central defence and midfield. The discussions also focused on adding greater pace and power to the attack.
Mourinho did not impose demands on Real Madrid. Instead, he explained from the outset which areas he believed needed reinforcements and which players could provide the qualities required.
Rodri emerged as one of those names. After the level of his performances at the World Cup, all sides eventually agreed that the midfielder could make a significant contribution to Real Madrid’s team.
The club subsequently made an offer for Rodri, but the player chose a different proposal in this case, from Barcelona. Real Madrid failed to reach an agreement with him and, crucially, did not open negotiations with Manchester City over the transfer.
The board understood the circumstances and accepted the outcome. Mourinho did the same, without objection. That means the Portuguese was not responsible for the initial controversy and did not create tension within the club because the deal failed.
There are three weeks left before the summer transfer window closes, and officials at Valdebebas are working at full capacity to assemble a squad capable of competing on every front. Communication channels remain open, with Mourinho and the board continuing to coordinate their plans.
Mourinho would have liked to see Rodri in a Real Madrid shirt and recognises the value he could have brought to the side. But the failure to sign him has not become a major internal dispute and, according to the report, did not warrant the anger or publicity surrounding it.
The manager had already proposed Bernardo Silva as an alternative during the Santo Mauro meeting. Mourinho believes the Manchester City player can operate as an attacking midfielder as well as contribute in other midfield and forward roles.
Two months after that meeting, Silva is considered capable of carrying out the role Mourinho identified for him, giving the manager another important tactical option for the new season.
Rodri’s future at Real Madrid has not been ruled out entirely. The door will remain open until the summer transfer deadline, although that does not mean the club will use every available resource to sign another midfielder before then.
Mourinho and the board do not currently believe the market contains another player with all the qualities they are seeking. As a result, Real Madrid are continuing to assess their options calmly rather than rushing into a deal that might not fit the club’s longer-term sporting plan.
The existing midfield group includes Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni, while the club is waiting for greater clarity over Eduardo Camavinga. The coaching staff and directors believe those players can provide a strong and varied midfield, particularly because several of them are capable of changing position and responsibilities according to the demands of a match.
The work under Mourinho is not limited to recruitment. The manager has already begun establishing his methods at Real Madrid, introducing the rules and standards that will govern daily life at the training ground.
Organisation, discipline and complete control are central to his approach. Mourinho is enjoying what he regards as a return home after many years away from the club, and he has made his expectations clear to the players.
Some already know they will not be part of his plans after the transfer window closes, which could lead to changes in the current squad in the coming weeks. Even so, those decisions are being handled through direct discussions rather than through conflict or unrest in the dressing room.
Mourinho understands that the more demanding phase will begin when competitive matches start and the pressure increases. For now, though, the manager and Real Madrid’s hierarchy are in complete agreement over how they want to build the team.
While the Rodri story has generated considerable debate outside the club, the atmosphere inside Real Madrid remains calm. The manager understands what he needs, the board knows his priorities and the search for suitable signings continues without haste.
Rodri’s failed transfer is therefore viewed at present as an unresolved possibility rather than a crisis, with Mourinho retaining confidence in the options already available to him.
