Valdebebas has reached its verdict: “The best signing is on the bench”

Real Madrid completed several major deals and reshaped their squad during the summer. Yet the loudest internal praise is reportedly being reserved for a man who did not require a shirt presentation. According to AS, people at Valdebebas are increasingly describing José Mourinho as the club’s best signing.

The Portuguese coach returned to Madrid without universal approval. His first spell delivered a LaLiga title, a Copa del Rey and enough conflict to fill several seasons. The Mourinho of 2026, however, is said to have entered Valdebebas with a slightly different approach. His standards remain demanding, but he now relies more heavily on dialogue, explanation and persuasion.

AS reports that Mourinho has changed the habits, rules and daily routines surrounding the first team. One of his main objectives was to restore the players’ respect for the badge, as well as the level of mutual respect inside the dressing room.

The coach reportedly spoke individually to players and explained exactly what he expected from them. Even those who initially appeared to be outside his plans were given an opportunity to change his mind. There was no immediate public clear-out. Mourinho set the requirements first and then waited to see how the squad responded.

That approach matters after the failure of the previous two projects. According to the Spanish newspaper, Xabi Alonso never established the necessary connection with the dressing room. As the relationship between the coach and the club deteriorated, parts of the squad began to disconnect. Álvaro Arbeloa attempted to stabilise the situation but was also unable to build a lasting bond with the group.

Mourinho is said to have reversed that process. He received the full backing of the Real Madrid hierarchy, but did not use it simply to force the squad into submission. Instead, he introduced clear roles, direct conversations and firm control over the team’s daily work. So far, the players have responded with commitment.

Early results have helped. Madrid began the LaLiga season with a late 2-1 victory over Espanyol before beating Real Sociedad 4-1. Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick in the second match, while Vinícius added a goal and an assist. The team is not yet a finished project, but it has already shown the ability to survive difficult periods and raise its level during matches.

Mourinho has not hidden his satisfaction either. Ahead of the Málaga fixture, he said he could not be happier with the work his players had done. He also highlighted the depth of the squad and the number of solutions available when players need to be replaced.

One of Mourinho’s first requests was reportedly Bernardo Silva. The midfielder was recruited with a central role in mind, and the early stages of that decision have been viewed positively inside the club. Mourinho was not simply asking for another famous name. He wanted a specific player to help control matches.

It is still far too early for a final assessment. Real Madrid have played only two league games, and their biggest tests remain ahead. AS itself acknowledges that football will eventually deliver the verdict. The opening weeks have nevertheless been enough to replace much of the criticism surrounding Mourinho’s appointment with confidence that the club made the correct choice.

Madrid signed new defenders, midfielders and forwards. The biggest change, however, may have been introduced by the man standing on the touchline. Mourinho has not won a trophy during his second spell yet, but he appears to have recovered something Valdebebas had clearly lost: a dressing room willing to listen to its coach.

That is why the best signing is said to be sitting on the bench. Mourinho would probably be quick to point out that he usually spends the match standing.