Real Madrid: Jose Mourinho has Vinicius Jnr, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold issues in his in-tray as he returns to Bernabeu
Jose Mourinho is set to be re-appointed as Real Madrid head coach with a remit to return trophies to the Bernabeu; Portuguese boss has many issues to solve to return Spanish giants to the top of European football, including key players and squad unity
Thursday 11 June 2026 12:12, UK
Jose Mourinho is set to be re-appointed by Real Madrid. It's a dream return for the head coach - but when he gets down to business he will find a range of dilemmas which have to be solved if he is to deliver success in his second spell at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid finished a distant second to Barcelona in LaLiga this past season, suffering the ignominy of their rivals sealing the crown with a Clasico victory at the Spotify Camp Nou. In the Champions League, Bayern Munich had too much firepower.
Real haven't won a major trophy in the past two seasons. Here are the issues Mourinho will have to address to put the Spanish giants back on top...
Relationship with Vinicius Jnr
Mourinho will immediately have questions to answer about Vinicius Junior.
When the Real Madrid winger alleged he had been racially abused by Mourinho's Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni - claims which were later unproven, with Prestianni instead punished for homphobic abuse - Mourinho acted sympathetically on the pitch, putting his arm around Vinicius Jnr. But he was not so warm with his post-match comments, suggesting the Brazilian calls on trouble from rival fans and opponents with the way he behaves.
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Vinicius Jnr wields considerable player power at the Bernabeu. Xabi Alonso's heavy-handed man-management of the star contributed to his failure.
But it is understood both Mourinho and Vinicius Jnr have been in touch since and the pair are ready to start with a clean slate. It will be an important relationship.
Maximise Mbappe - and find the formula around him
Mourinho's greatest teams created a siege mentality. Us against them. All together against the rest.
Uniting the club will be his aim in Madrid - but that includes shifting the perspective of a fanbase who have been booing star striker Kylian Mbappe.
The Frenchman's commitment to the cause has been questioned by supporters. They can be less critical of his goal haul. He has scored 86 goals across his two seasons.
But the fact that tally has equated to nothing more than a European Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup since his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain underlines the dilemma of how you harness Mbappe's talents within a successful team structure.
As PSG celebrate a second straight Champions League win without Mbappe, it's a problem Mourinho will have to solve if he is to return Real to the top.
Take Trent to the next level
After a rocky start, Trent Alexander-Arnold has established himself as Real's first-choice right-back - but criticism continues over his defensive capabilities.
Mourinho has utilised a range of full-backs through his career. There have been conventional right-backs such as Paulo Ferreira, the adventurous left-back Marcelo, and players just as comfortable at centre-back such as Branislav Ivanovic, Cesar Azpilicueta and Cristian Chivu.
But Alexander-Arnold's skillset and style is unique. Mourinho has shown an adaptability to different player profiles and perhaps his coaching can help enhance the defensive side of Alexander-Arnold's game. But he will also have to provide the former Liverpool talent licence to thrill. Mourinho is understood to be an admirer of Alexander-Arnold's ability.
Captain Jude? Real's next leadership contest...
One of Mourinho's first tasks will be selecting a captain to replace long-serving, six-time Champions League winner Dani Carvajal, who leaves the club this summer. After the battle for the club presidency delayed Mourinho's appointment, the next leadership contest at the club begins.
Federico Valaverde is vice-captain and Carvajal referenced the Uruguayan taking up the honour from him in a social media post. But, after Valverde was involved in a training ground spat with Aurelien Tchouameni, Mourinho may look for an alternative leader.
Traditionally at Real the most long-serving players take on the armband. Thibaut Courtois and Vinicius Jnr would naturally be in line. The Brazilian was captain in May's Clasico.
Mbappe, meanwhile, is the captain of France and would no doubt relish the role. But could Jude Bellingham be Mourinho's man?
The incoming Portuguese boss will no doubt want to make a stamp on this squad and Mourinho has publicly praised Bellingham's character in the past. The respect was mutual when the midfielder got a snap of Mourinho with his mum after the 2024 Champions League final.
Bellingham was eager to be included in the leadership group for the England national team under Gareth Southgate and now, going into his fourth season at Real, looks well placed to take on the prestigious responsibility.
There is plenty of competition for the role but expect Bellingham to be a leading, key figure for Mourinho whether that is in an official capacity or not.
Stop the in-fighting and unite the squad
Managing the egos in the Real Madrid dressing room will be a key challenge for Mourinho if he is to be successful. The ugly fallout from the Valverde-Tchouameni clash suggested this is a squad which needs bonding.
Carlo Ancelotti was praised for his ability to unite a group of superstar individuals. In contrast, that attribute was lacking from the Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa's tenures - and it cost them.
Mourinho has a track record working with the best which should encourage the club's supporters he knows the methods to combine superstars into a united force. Although there was a high-profile falling out with Iker Casillas when he was last at Real.
Simply... Win!
Real Madrid need to win big trophies in 2026/27.
Barcelona have been a level above in Spain for too long and Champions League defeats to Arsenal and Bayern Munich over the past two seasons have underlined the gap between Real and Europe's best sides.
Mourinho is also craving a big trophy. It was 2022 when he last lifted a major one, winning the Conference League with Roma. That was part of a run of three major finals in three seasons, having steered Tottenham Hotspur to the League Cup final in 2021 - which he was famously sacked ahead of - and the 2023 Europa League final with Roma.
But you have to go back 11 years to 2015 for when he last won a league, when he was at Chelsea.
He delivered a record-breaking 100-point title win when he was last at the Bernabeu. Will his return rekindle the glory days? Or is this a nostalgia trip to nowhere?
Either way, it is going to be fascinating to watch.
