Mourinho Arrives in Madrid with Former Staff to Lead Real Madrid Project

Portuguese manager José Mourinho is set to arrive in Madrid on Tuesday to officially take charge of Real Madrid, starting his work from Wednesday at the club's training facility in Valdebebas alongside his technical staff, according to the Spanish newspaper "AS".

The coach aims to compensate for the time lost during the club's electoral process, which had caused a freeze on some critical decisions.

Florentino Pérez secured his position in Real Madrid's presidential elections on Monday morning, marking the first genuine presidential vote in two decades. Pérez won with 65% of the vote, ensuring his continuation as club president for another four years, despite over a third of voting members supporting his opponent, who criticized Pérez's plans regarding club ownership.

Planning the Summer and Roster Decisions

According to "AS", Mourinho's immediate priorities include outlining the team's preparation period, deciding the location for the summer training camp, and scheduling friendly matches for Real Madrid.

He will also focus on finalizing the squad with precision, especially after the club officially completed its first summer signings by acquiring defender Ibrahima Konaté and right-back Denzel Dumfries to strengthen the defense.

Additionally, Mourinho intends to reestablish connections with the staff at Valdebebas, many of whom he has known since his initial tenure with the team.

Arrival of the Former Team and Trusted Assistants

The Portuguese coach will commence his role supported by the technical team that accompanied him during his previous stint with Benfica, which he described to close associates as "the best in his career".

The staff includes:

• João Tralhão: the first assistant and Mourinho's right-hand man.
• Pedro Machado: a technical assistant within the team.
• Roberto Merilla: the trusted performance analyst responsible for studying opponents.
• Nuno Santos: goalkeeper coach.
• Antonio Dias: fitness coach in charge of implementing Mourinho's high-intensity, fast-paced style.

Choosing the "Man of the House" with Pepe as a Leading Candidate

The Spanish newspaper also noted that a significant decision remains pending for Mourinho concerning the selection of the final member of his staff, the so-called "man of the house". This role involves a person with a previous connection to Real Madrid who acts as a liaison between the technical team, players, and management—a position successfully held by Aitor Karanka during Mourinho's first tenure.

The former Portuguese defender Pepe is a strong candidate for this position; however, the final decision has not yet been made.

Mourinho prefers to take his time to carefully select the appropriate profile for this assistant. He requires someone who commands respect and has a history within the club but who does not overshadow or distract the players, emphasizing that he himself remains the primary and ultimate person responsible for the team's results.