Mourinho rules out Real Madrid return amid turmoil
Jose Mourinho has firmly ruled out any prospect of returning to Real Madrid, employing a characteristically colourful metaphor to distance himself from the Spanish giants’ ongoing difficulties, reports BritPanorama.
Speaking to Portuguese broadcaster Sport TV, the current Benfica manager made his position abundantly clear, stating, “Don’t count on me for soap operas.” He elaborated, “There are good soap operas, but they’re very long. You miss one or two episodes and then you lose track. Don’t count on me, because I don’t watch soap operas.”
The 62-year-old’s remarks come as Madrid find themselves engulfed in supporter unrest following a turbulent period at the Santiago Bernabeu. The club dismissed Xabi Alonso from his position following their Spanish Super Cup final loss to Barcelona, with reports suggesting tensions had developed between the former midfielder and his squad.
Former Galactico Alvaro Arbeloa has stepped into the role, but his tenure began disastrously when Madrid were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Albacete, a struggling second-division outfit, on Wednesday. Supporters at the Bernabeu expressed their frustration during the match, jeering and brandishing white handkerchiefs while the score remained level at the interval.
Arbeloa acknowledged the supporters’ right to voice their displeasure following a difficult week for the club, stating, “Those whistles were for everyone, and for me first and foremost because I’m the one in charge, the leader of this team, and the one to blame when things go wrong.” He emphasized that his achievements as a player counted for little in his new role, stating he must now earn the fans’ respect as a manager.
The new coach also defended president Florentino Perez, who faced chants and jeers from the crowd alongside winger Vinicius Jr. Arbeloa insisted the criticism of Perez originated from those who oppose Real Madrid rather than genuine supporters, describing the president as the most significant figure in the club’s history alongside Santiago Bernabeu himself.
Mourinho and Perez reportedly maintained a strong working relationship during the Portuguese manager’s spell at the club from 2010 to 2013, when he claimed La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. However, Perez has previously been non-committal about the possibility of rehiring his former coach.
The pair will meet again later this month when Benfica host Madrid in the Champions League’s league phase. Who comes out on top remains to be seen, adding another layer of intrigue to an already complex narrative.
