Inside Real Madrid's transfer plans: Mourinho pull...
Key takeaways
- Mourinho hadn't yet been formally announced as the team's new coach, but he was already calling the shots.
- Previous Madrid coaches have often been frustrated by their lack of control over transfers; for example, the pleas of Carlo Ancelotti for reinforcements in key positions went largely unheeded.
- The consequences can be seen in the change in profile of Madrid's signings so far in this window compared with last year.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
At the five-star Hotel Santo Mauro, a regular haunt for Madrid players and executives in recent years, José Mourinho was joined by Madrid's director general, José Ángel Sánchez, chief scout, Juni Calafat, and agent Jorge Mendes.
Mourinho hadn't yet been formally announced as the team's new coach, but he was already calling the shots.
Previous Madrid coaches have often been frustrated by their lack of control over transfers; for example, the pleas of Carlo Ancelotti for reinforcements in key positions went largely unheeded. But that has changed now, sources have told ESPN. Mourinho isn't just being listened to in these discussions; he is identifying targets and overseeing a change in policy.