Mourinho’s Madrid Return Unbelievable – Jorge Valdano

Former Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano says he finds it hard to believe speculation in the local media that Jose Mourinho will replace Rafa Benitez as coach in the coming days.

According to the respected Cadena Ser radio show “El Larguero,” Blancos president Florentino Perez feels that Benitez has completely lost the dressing room and is considering making a move within the “next days or next hours,” and putting in the now-available Mourinho straight away.

COPE programme “El Partido de las 12” cites well-placed sources in its claim that various Madrid socios have been called by phone by an unknown research company to find their views on Benitez and possible alternatives. These reportedly included both Mourinho, who had three turbulent years as Blancos manager from 2010 to 2013, and outgoing Bayern Munich and former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

Speaking on El Larguero, Valdano, who was sacked by Perez in the summer of 2011 after losing an internal Bernabeu power struggle with Mourinho, said that he found it difficult to conclude that the Portuguese was now set to return to the Bernabeu.

“It’s hard for me to believe, hard for me to understand [Mourinho returning to Bernabeu],” Valdano said. “I know that Madrid is going through a difficult period, not dramatic, just difficult. But the idea that there must be action every time there is a crisis is not the most advisable. This idea of constant movement is the worst solution possible.”

One-time Madrid youth player and assistant coach Benitez returned at the club just last summer, but has been heavily criticised by local pundits through recent weeks, whistled regularly by Madrid fans, and also reportedly lost the faith of dressing room. Valdano says it is really too early to judge Rafa’s work and the relatively new coach is the “least responsible” for the rough spell the team and club is going through.