The former Real Madrid captain has spoken out against José Mourinho’s appointment as the deal gets closer.
A former Real Madrid captain has shared his thoughts against José Mourinho becoming the club’s next head coach.
Although Mourinho is still under contract with Benfica until 2027, many reports say he might come back to Real Madrid after the 2025/26 season. Mourinho coached Real from 2010 to 2013 and won La Liga and the Copa del Rey with them. Since then, he’s managed teams like Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Roma, Fenerbahçe, and now Benfica.
His trophy wins have slowed down since leaving Manchester United in 2018, where he won the League Cup and Europa League in 2017. His only big trophy since then is the Conference League with Roma in 2022. Still, Mourinho is one of the most wanted coaches in Europe.
Recently, reports of fights between players Aurélien Tchouaméni and Fede Valverde have made some fans think that Real Madrid might need a strong leader like Mourinho to bring order and team spirit back.
But former Real Madrid goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas, who played 725 games for the club between 1999 and 2015, doesn’t agree. The three-time Champions League winner shared his opinion on social media on May 12.
Casillas said, “When Real Madrid goes two seasons without winning a title, it’s time to worry. The ‘Clásico’ matches are already tough before they even begin. Let’s look forward to next season and forget about this one.”
About the rumors of Mourinho’s return, he added, “I have nothing against Mourinho personally. He seems like a great professional. But I don’t want him at Real Madrid. I think other coaches would be better suited for the club I love. Just my personal opinion.”
Fans quickly shared their thoughts. One said, “He’s a good coach and will win trophies, but his style might be boring.” Another wrote, “It hurts because Mourinho is more loved than you. He didn’t care that you were Real’s captain and benched you—that’s why he’s the right one for handling these selfish players.”
A third fan commented, “Mourinho has already given all he could to football. His style doesn’t fit the modern game anymore.”
And another said, “As a Real Madrid legend, you have the right to share your opinion.”
Real Madrid will play Real Oviedo in La Liga on May 14.