Mourinho demands higher standards at Real Madrid's Valdebebas as the club prepares for the upcoming season in Spain

Jose Mourinho stepped onto the Valdebebas pitch for Real Madrid’s first pre‑season training, signalling that his second spell will begin with new standards rather than a relaxed return after the summer break, and used the session to outline exactly what he still needs from the squad. The first day of pre‑season is usually about easing players back into work, but Mourinho rejected that approach and set a tone of higher expectations from the moment he arrived at Valdebebas. According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, the Portuguese manager’s biggest message was psychological, not tactical; he wants the players to rediscover the mentality that once defined Real Madrid, a club whose former Champions League‑winning coach now seeks to restore that edge.

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The club has already strengthened the defence with Ibrahima Konate and added Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva and Denzel Dumfries to the squad, arrivals that have been welcomed but still leave gaps. Mourinho believes a central midfielder to bring balance and an additional centre‑back remain essential, and he has signalled that further signings will depend on departures.

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Raul Asencio and Eduardo Camavinga are cited as players whose exit would free space for new deals, with the sporting department drawing a line that without such departures the transfer window offers limited options. Picture credit: X/@realmadrid shows Mourinho addressing the squad after the session; the club’s next steps will focus on squad assessment before any additional business is concluded.