Mourinho's Real Madrid crisis deepens as dressing-room problems return

8 Oct 2026 10:59 BST |
3 min read

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Jose Mourinho is already struggling to solve the problem he was brought to Real Madrid to fix, according to a worrying report from Spain, which paints a concerning picture behind the scenes at the Bernabeu.

Mourinho was signed by Real Madrid in the summer in a bid to control a dressing room that faced internal squabbles that saw both Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa leave in the first six months of 2026.

A staggering report from Cadena Ser, however, indicates that the renowned man-manager has not successfully got a handle on his new squad, though.

Atmosphere remains ‘icy’ at Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s atmosphere behind the scenes is “far from reassuring”, the Madrid-based radio station claimed in a stunning report that claimed two players even came to blows in training.

Journalist Anton Meana explained on the ‘El Larguero’ programme: “The only problem is that the atmosphere in the dressing room is still as icy as it was five months ago.

“This coldness in the dressing room, which even Mourinho’s intensity hasn’t managed to dispel, combined with the turmoil surrounding the Mbappe affair, has created a tense climate, far from ideal for approaching this crucial month of October.”

What has Kylian Mbappe done?

Focus has fallen particularly on Kylian Mbappe over the course of the last two weeks following a knee injury sustained while scoring France’s winner in the 1-0 Nations League clash with Turkey.

Mbappe was criticised in the media for appearing at a Parisian nightclub with girlfriend Ester Exposito as opposed to going back to Madrid for treatment, while he subsequently appeared to go out of his way defy Mourinho publicly.

Mbappe posted a video of himself cycling in Switzerland, with a particularly intriguing choice of soundtrack.

It was the song ‘Les gentils, les mechants’ by Michel Fugain with Big Bazar, but what is especially interesting was the verse that he chose. Translated, it means: “Who is very bad? The bad one.”

Some Real Madrid supporters immediately pounced on this apparent message, linking it back to an interview that Mourinho had given with the Bet It Drive Show published in September.

The Portuguese said: “A player can’t ski in the mountains, he can’t ride a bicycle. It has to do with the importance you give to your work. If you fall off a bicycle, you might miss three games. Or worse, you could break a leg, or maybe just get a cut, but that prevents you from being at your best level.”

Mbappe’s post, from his actions to the soundtrack, would certainly invite the interpretation that he is openly challenging Mourinho’s authority and control over his life.

Mourinho fighting to turn Real Madrid around – but is it a losing battle?

These actions come against a backdrop of multiple reports last season of Real Madrid being unable to control their players.

Perhaps the highest profile of these incidents came in El Clasico, when Vinicius Junior stormed past Alonso after being substituted before causing a mass confrontation on the pitch at full-time.

Later in the season, under Arbeloa, Aurelien Tchouameni hospitalised Federico Valverde during an incident at training that left the Uruguay player unconscious.

It is amid that backdrop that Mourinho was recruited to try to install some discipline into the squad, though it appears he is finding things just as tough as his predecessors.

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