Former Real Madrid coach Jorge Valdano believes Jose Mourinho will return “with his most seductive face” but is not convinced he is the man to bring peace to the troubled club in the long term.
Madrid have imploded in recent weeks with coach Alvaro Arbeloa and star striker Kylian Mbappe trading barbs in public, midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde engaging in a training ground fracas that left the latter in hospital and Florentino Perez calling a snap presidential election.
They will end the season without a trophy with Barcelona remaining the dominant force in Spanish football.
Benfica boss Mourinho has reportedly agreed terms over a two-year contract with Madrid and will replace Arbeloa in the dugout, returning to the club he coached between 2010 and 2013.
He has a mighty job on his hands, trying to mend a fractured dressing room and Valdano believes it will start well but could then turn problematic.
He told Movistar: “I think he’s going to arrive with his most seductive face. At the beginning everything will be very placid and I think the players will respond. I suppose the pre-season will be a little more demanding and that will help a better performance of the squad.
“But let’s see what happens with the passage of time and when the defeats arrive, if peace will be possible or if we will continue with this somewhat disruptive situation that we have experienced this season.”
Real Madrid won’t sell the club’s heroes says Valdano
Valdano also served as the general manager at Madrid before being sacked in 2011 after a series of disagreements with Mourinho. He believes there needs to be a major overhaul at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, adding: “Mourinho doesn’t fix this alone.”
There has been speculation Madrid may look to move on some big names, including Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, but Valdano is confident Perez will look to keep hold of the club’s star attractions.
The Argentinian said: “Within the project of Florentino Pérez who considers football as a business of heroes, he will not sell the heroes. That is for sure.”
