Mourinho ‘to seek’ total control at Real Madrid | OneFootball

Marca reports that José Mourinho, still Benfica coach, wants total control of Real Madrid’s first team, seeking autonomy over the dressing room, club structure and sporting planning.

The report adds he also wants guarantees in the transfer market, believes the current squad has imbalances and wants a decisive say on both arrivals and departures.

It further states that recent meetings between Benfica and Real Madrid allowed him to assess several weaknesses in the Spanish side at close quarters.

A possible second stint at the Santiago Bernabéu comes with memories of his first. He did not win the Champions League, but is credited with sharpening competitiveness and fostering a mindset that preceded a dominant era.

On recruitment, he personally backed Luka Modrić in 2012 despite scepticism in Spain, urging patience from supporters and predicting the Bernabéu would warm to his class. Years later he praised Modrić’s elegance and said he was proud to have brought him when few believed he suited the club.

Ángel Di María, signed from Benfica in 2010, quickly became important under Mourinho and was decisive in the 2014 Champions League win before joining Manchester United for 75 million euros. He also influenced the arrivals of Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil after the 2010 World Cup, with Özil forging a prolific understanding with Cristiano Ronaldo across three seasons.

Source: Glorioso 1904