Concerns over Jose Mourinho’s position at Real Madrid are reportedly mounting, with club executives said to be frustrated by the lack of progress under the Portuguese manager. According to Jorge C. Picon, who writes for AS, and Sergio Valentin of Marca, both of whom shared their reports on X, the mood among Madrid’s senior figures has deteriorated following the team’s performances this season.
President Florentino Perez and other key decision-makers had expected a much stronger impact from Mourinho’s return, particularly after allegedly granting him significant freedom to shape the squad during the summer transfer window. The main source of dissatisfaction appears to be the team’s performances, which reportedly fall short of Real Madrid’s expectations and bear an uncomfortable resemblance to last season’s struggles, when the club failed to secure a trophy.
Although the players are said to remain supportive of Mourinho, doubts are growing within the boardroom over the absence of a distinctive playing style. Perez is already considering his options should the situation fail to improve, Valentin reports. The Real Madrid president has allegedly identified a potential replacement, with former France manager Didier Deschamps emerging as a candidate to take over at the Santiago Bernabeu. Deschamps is currently without a club after spending 14 years in charge of the French national team. During that period, he guided Les Bleus to World Cup glory in 2018 and another final appearance four years later, before leaving his position following France’s fourth-place finish at the tournament in North America.
At the time, he explained that the difficult atmosphere surrounding the team, rather than results on the pitch, had influenced his decision to step aside, adding that he wanted to avoid causing further harm to the national side. Mourinho, meanwhile, faces a defining stretch of the campaign. Real Madrid are already seven points behind reigning champions Barcelona after nine league matches, leaving little room for further setbacks. Their immediate challenge is a Champions League encounter with RB Leipzig, before attention turns to next Sunday’s Clasico against Barcelona away from home.
That showdown could have major consequences for Mourinho’s future. The Portuguese coach has won nine of his 11 competitive games since returning to the Spanish capital, but recent reports suggest his position could become increasingly difficult to defend if Madrid fail to deliver a convincing performance against their biggest rivals.