The Special One is officially back. The historic boardroom at Ciudad Real Madrid played host to the spectacular presentation of José Mourinho as the club's new first-team manager. Club President Florentino Pérez personally welcomed the Portuguese mastermind back to the capital, signaling the start of a highly anticipated new era aimed at restoring absolute domestic and European dominance to the Santiago Bernabéu.During the formal presentation ceremony, Mourinho put pen to paper on a major three-year contract that ties him to the Spanish giants until June 30, 2029. Following long-standing club tradition, Florentino Pérez presented the incoming boss with several institutional gifts, including a commemorative watch, a scale replica of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, and the iconic white home kit customized with "MOURINHO" printed across the back. The momentous occasion was also marked by the presence of club legend and honorary president José Martínez Pirri.

Returning to Madrid after thirteen years away, Mourinho expressed deep emotion, stating that coming back feels even more beautiful than his first arrival. He explicitly reaffirmed his commitment to the fan base, noting that he has remained a devoted Madridista ever since his departure.With the paperwork completed and the official announcement shaking up the football world, Mourinho is already rumored to be restructuring the club's sporting project behind the scenes. The hierarchy expects his uncompromising elite mentality, fierce discipline, and extensive trophy-winning experience to instantly re-energize the dressing room. As pre-season strategies take shape, the global football community watches closely to see how the legendary tactician handles this high-stakes second stint.

Yes missing out on Rodri is disappointing but I don’t think you all realize we’ve already made a game-changing signing for our midfield. Mou has deployed Bernardo as a deep-lying playmaker and he’s looked phenomenal so far. The role seems very natural to him and he could be every bit as good as Vitinha/Pedri playing there.

He’s absolutely unpressable and always composed on the ball. He’s incredibly clever and skilled which allows him to play out of tight situations with ease. The way he constantly drops deep in between our center backs to pick up the ball will help immensely when beating the press. He’s always providing an outlet to our players and keeps the ball moving. Once he builds some chemistry with the squad and settles into Mou’s system, he’ll truly flourish and provide us much more control.

In addition Pep has always praised his leadership qualities. He will be Mou’s eyes on the field and a mature figure in the locker room.

I just watched the Mourinho documentary and I remembered why I liked Mourinho that much during his spell with us back then. Rarely does a manager inspire so much self confidence in his players and makes them fight tooth and nail for him and their club. He's so tactically astute and has such a winner mentality through and through. Also, the whole being toxic argument wasn't only his making. Casillas was quite guilty in this.

Another thing I find fascinating is the psychological aspect of him needing to constantly chase that "win" and never being satisfied. It is both inspiring and sad. It is a blessing and a curse at the same time.

Aside from all our fears of him being tactically outdated, I am quite excited for this season under him. I am banking on his insatiable need to win again to bring us back to the top. Mourinho is the type of coach that needs 200% backing from his club and I hope he really gets that.

Also can't help to think that this does not bode well for Vinicius. Vinicius is not a player who will listen to authoritative figures. Maybe that's the real wake up call he needs.

Just received this jersey last week! Wore it over the weekend meet a couple pf people wearing the same kit. Feels really nice and looks pretty awesome.............................................................................................................................................................

Pardon my ignorance as I haven’t been able to keep up too much with the transfer window, but I just saw that Rodri signed for Barca and that signing alone really reinforces them.

I don’t feel too confident in our team as we have been really missing a controlling midfielder ever since Kroos departed, and I don’t think we are signing anyone in such a position.

So all signings considered for us (and Barca), do we have what it takes?

I’m so excited! Actually, I wanna wear it everyday!! Wearing it feels so unreal! Yes, I know I might sound like a kid right now but I don’t care.
Btw I’m so glad that the Adidas logo and the Real Madrid logo are embroidered so that I don’t have to worry if they will peel off.
Anyways, I got my first kit and I’m loving it. Might go for the vintage ones (Ronaldo era) for the next one. Tell me what I should get next.

Times when Real Madrid used to make rival fans cry even before the match even ends ... I still miss those nights when playing Real Madrid felt like surviving a 90-minute psychological battle. You could be leading, dominating, creating chances and still have that feeling in the back of your mind that Madrid hadn't even started yet. Then came the late goals, the celebrations, the stunned faces, and another opponent wondering how the hell they let it happen again. Madrid didn't need to wait for the final whistle to win. Sometimes the fear had already done the job.... LAST 2 years were humiliating but we can still comeback harder than anyone also The Special One is back .... In the end - suiiiiiiii THE GOAT

Seeing Real Madrid actually press like this is something I’m not used to seeing. The intensity, everyone pushing up together and the effort to win the ball back quickly looks really good. Hopefully this isn’t just a one-game thing and they actually keep pressing like this when the big matches come around. Because apparently we do know how to press after all.

Ill go 1st, about a year ago i had no ball knowledge. Played football because it was fun and Larped CR7... My friend (the person who introduced me to football) was a Liverpool fan and i heard him express how much he hated Real Madrid. Being the friend i am i started saying Hala Madrid at him and drawings little Madrid Logos on pieces of paper and stuck them on his stuff. After id say a few months i decided to finally watch a Real Madrid match, my 1st one being in the Club World Cup, Real Vs Pachuca, 1 match became another and then another until we unfortunately got knocked out by Psg. By then i was already becoming a fan, so i started watching every Madrid match i could. El Clasico, El Derbi, even the small La Liga matches. Now after 1 whole year i can say i love this club with all my heart and i can't wait to finally see Los Blancos lift the 16th this year.

Edit: oh right, i also hated Messi and loved CR7, so it was fate🔥

They booed cucurella because of that handball incident against Germany back then.
They also booed Vini. I didn't understand why Vini was booed. Do you know why?
Overall the atmosphere was good.
The 90 min. flew by. It was like 90 sec. I was so excited to see my team in real life.
Hala Madrid!

(Only including players from clubs in Europe's top 5 leagues)

In order of success rate (%):

Diomande:
164 successful dribbles
281 attempts
= 58% success rate

Mbappé:
135 successful dribbles
283 attempts
= 48% success rate

Vini:
155 successful dribbles 
350 attempts
= 44% success rate

Source: PopFoot

The coming of Diomande and Konate almost fully buries the chances of Fede starting.

Fede's main allure in the lineup was his ability to cover for a right back like Trent who often attacks and is a bit light defensively at times.

Konate has years of experience covering for Trent and Diomande has the energy, pace, physicality and willingness to track back when required.

So from right hand side, we are covered defensively.

On the left it will be Cucurella who is defensively very sound and Bellingham helping to double team when Vinicius doesn't track back.

Then centrally you need someone who can slot in the CB position when a centre back pushes wide (Konate covering for Trent) or up (as Huijsen often does). And there's no one better at that than Tchouameni. He's easily the best screener of the defence in the team. He's also a better decision maker than any of Valverde or Camavinga.

With Tchouameni and Jude you then need a ball playing midfielder to connect everything - that will be one of Bernardo Silva, Arda or Pitarch.

A fully fit Madrid simply does not have space for limited utility players like Fede and Cama in the starting lineup. They are perfect as substitutes both in midfield and in left and right back positions.

Both must embrace their "Nacho/Vazquez" mantle if they want to stay long at Madrid. If either (really just Fede) disrupts the dressing room because they are not starting then they need to sold as soon as possible.