Restoring Real Madrid’s honor and values is the first mission of the new coach
Only nine players in the current squad have managed to stay out of arguments or tense situations with coaches or teammates.
Real Madrid is closing the book on one of those weeks that fans never forget. Not for Madrid supporters, nor for their rivals. And the fallout stretches far beyond the roughly $540,000 in fines imposed on Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, a punishment unexpectedly made public by the club itself and one that has now set a precedent. The shift in direction awaiting Real Madrid ahead of the 2026-27 season will go beyond tactics or transfers. Honor is now part of the equation.
The changes were always expected to come, slowly but steadily. But the events of the past few days have convinced those in charge at the club that a dramatic response can no longer wait and must begin the moment this season’s LaLiga campaign ends. There is no time to lose.
The priority is to immediately restore stability, respect and order to a squad that has drifted through the current season without direction or leadership. That task will become the absolute priority for whoever is appointed the club’s next head coach, with José Mourinho now closer than ever to returning to Madrid. The Portuguese manager is reportedly willing to take on the challenge of turning the situation around, provided he has the full backing of the club presidency.
Calls for swift action are growing louder. Pedja Mijatovic, a Real Madrid legend, is among those urging immediate change. “He is a man with a lot of character and personality. The team has gone two years without fixing anything and needs someone with a firm hand. It needs a coach who commands respect from the players,” he said – echoing a feeling inside the club that this has been missing throughout the season.
Only nine players in the current squad have reportedly avoided clashes or tense situations with coaches or teammates. The wear and tear Carlo Ancelotti had noticed has now become impossible to ignore, and the club believes the priority is to make the group function as a true team again, with clearly defined rules and mandatory discipline for everyone – something they feel has been absent throughout the campaign.
Strengthening the roster has become secondary for Real Madrid’s board and executives. Before focusing on signings, the club wants to recover the values it believes have been lost over recent months amid internal feuds, constant leaks and even street altercations. Arrivals and departures will come later, but the urgent mission is to repair a damaged image that could still lead to consequences beyond those already announced.
The first objective – now treated almost as a matter of survival because of everything that has unfolded in the dressing room over recent weeks – is to seal off Valdebebas. Club officials want to stop the leaks and internal fractures that have plagued the training ground over the last five months from continuing to damage Real Madrid’s image and credibility.
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