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Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde has given an early positive assessment of new manager Jose Mourinho. The Los Blancos midfielder has admitted that the Portuguese coach has surprised him with his approach.
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Mourinho has returned to coach Real Madrid once again and is in his second spell with the La Liga side. After the FUFA World Cup 2026, several players joined him at the pre-season training, and it seems like the former Benfica boss has already impressed the squad.
Real Madrid star’s honest admission about coach Jose Mourinho, ‘sometimes he is…’
Speaking after a pre-season friendly, Valverde said:
“I did not expect Mourinho to be like this.”
The Uruguayan star added:
“He’s very close to us. Sometimes he’s hard, but I think that’s what can make you improve.”
Mourinho returned to Real Madrid in June 2026 for a second spell in charge, more than a decade after his first tenure at the club from 2010 to 2013. The appointment came as part of a significant overhaul at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Valverde, who has taken on the captaincy, described enjoying working under the new coach and learning from him in training. Images from the training ground have shown the pair interacting warmly, including a handshake on the pitch. The comments come as Real Madrid continue their pre-season preparations under Mourinho’s demanding but reportedly approachable style.
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