Jose Mourinho has already picked his new Real Madrid dressing room leader and it is not Vinicius or Mbappe | OneFootball

Real Madrid could be heading towards a major change in dressing-room hierarchy once Jose Mourinho officially returns to the Santiago Bernabéu.

According to SPORT, the Portuguese manager has already identified the player he wants to become the true leader of the squad next season – and surprisingly, it is neither Vinicius Jr. nor Kylian Mbappe.

Instead, Mourinho sees Thibaut Courtois as the ideal figure to lead Real Madrid both on and off the pitch during the next phase of the project.

Mourinho has started working

The report states that Mourinho is already actively involved in planning the structure of next season’s squad despite his appointment not yet being officially announced. 

While the club still waits for final clarity regarding internal political matters and the possible candidacy of Enrique Riquelme, the incoming manager is said to be wasting no time preparing for his return.

Courtois will be Mourinho’s dressing room leader. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

One of his first objectives appears to be restoring clear authority and balance inside the dressing room.

Recent months have exposed tensions surrounding leadership dynamics within the squad, particularly because of the growing superstar status of players like Mbappe and Vinicius. 

Mourinho is fully aware of the strong personalities inside the Real Madrid dressing room and wants a calmer, more experienced figure to become the reference point of the team.

That player, according to the report, is Courtois.

A definitive choice

The Belgian goalkeeper is viewed as one of the most respected voices in the squad thanks to his experience, personality, and influence. 

Mourinho has already held talks with Courtois. (Photo by Malcolm Griffiths/Getty Images for E1 Series)

In fact, Mourinho has already contacted the goalkeeper directly to discuss his current situation at the club as well as the changes expected in the coming weeks.

At the same time, the Portuguese manager is also believed to have started working on potential transfers.

As reported before, he has already instructed Real Madrid to look for a new right-back and at least two centre-backs as part of his defensive rebuild plans.

From a sporting perspective, Mourinho’s decision to choose Courtois says a lot because throughout his managerial career, he has always relied heavily on strong dressing-room figures. 

Sure, attacking superstars often dominate headlines, but the Portuguese coach usually prefers more authoritative personalities to control the emotional balance inside the squad, which is where Courtois fits in perfectly.