Mourinho told from within Real Madrid about the Tchouameni/Valverde incident
The Portuguese coach learned from people at Real Madrid what happened between the two players, suggesting that his arrival could be a reality.
625 kilometres from Madrid, still in Lisbon, Mourinho was already aware of the serious incident between Valverde and Tchouaméni inside the Valdebebas training complex. The current Benfica coach received information from within the club about an episode that began on Wednesday and ended in the worst possible way on Thursday: the Uruguayan midfielder hospitalised with a head injury, disciplinary proceedings opened against both players, and Real Madrid making headlines around the world.
The version of events that reached Mourinho, while making no attempt to justify Tchouaméni’s actions, places most of the responsibility on Valverde because of his repeated accusations towards the Frenchman. It was also stressed that the incident exposed Arbeloa’s inexperience, as he failed to separate the two players or intervene during the series of heavy tackles and heated exchanges on the pitch.
The fact that Mourinho was informed about the growing hostility between the two players on both Wednesday and Thursday points to the possibility of a move to the Bernabéu next season. As AS reported, Real Madrid view the Portuguese manager as the ideal candidate to oversee the major overhaul the dressing room urgently requires, with the squad increasingly fractured, lacking clear leadership, and weighed down by tensions that have been building for months.
Sources with access to Valdebebas confirm that episodes of conflict and tension between players, although none as serious as the clash between Valverde and Tchouaméni, have occurred with worrying regularity throughout the season. Mourinho, who managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup, is fully aware of the divisions inside the dressing room and the increasingly toxic atmosphere surrounding the squad.
Against this backdrop, Real Madrid believe they need a coach capable of restoring unity, and Mourinho’s name has emerged as the leading option. Although neither side has publicly acknowledged direct negotiations, people close to the Portuguese coach see a return to the Bernabéu as a genuine possibility. Mourinho feels ready to steady the situation and restore the team’s competitive edge at a time when, barring a major miracle and a Clásico victory, the club appears destined to finish the season without silverware.
Meanwhile, Benfica have already begun preparing for life without Mourinho despite attempts by club president Rui Costa to renew his contract. The coach’s deal includes a €3 million ($3.3 million) release clause that remains valid until ten days after Benfica’s final match of the season, scheduled for the weekend of 16 May. At the same time, Valdebebas has become a powder keg, and Mourinho knows it better than anyone.
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