Jose Mourinho has been unable to ease the tensions in Real Madrid’s ‘icy’ dressing room since returning to the club in the summer, according to reports.
Real’s chaotic 2025-26 season was marred by off-field incidents and speculation around fallouts and clashes between players and coaches.
Things came to a head in May when midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni were involved in a physical altercation.
But despite Mourinho’s no-nonsense reputation, Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claimed the situation is yet to improve, adding that the atmosphere remains tense.
The outlet added how the squad failed to get along with either Xabi Alonso or Alvaro Arbeloa last time out, and revealed that two players recently came to blows in the dressing room.
Those individuals were not named, yet Cadena Ser journalist Anton Meana highlighted the gravity of the situation.
Jose Mourinho has reportedly been unable to ease tensions in the Real Madrid dressing room
Several incidents marred Real’s 2025-26 campaign and the atmosphere is said to remain tense
He said: ‘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.’
The ‘Mbappe affair’ referenced is in relation to the French star’s recent recovery from injury.
Mbappe was forced to withdraw from France’s squad after scoring the winner against Turkey in their opening game of the international break.
The striker suffered a tendon injury in his left knee, according to The French Football Federation, although he returned to training on Wednesday and is expected to be fit for Real’s return to action this weekend.
However, prior to his return to Spain, Mbappe was seen visiting a nightclub in Paris with his partner Ester Exposito before he went on a cycling trip in the Swiss Alps, much to Mourinho’s dismay.
Mbappe shared a video of him smiling while riding a bike on Sunday in what appeared to be a picturesque country setting.
However, speaking last month, Mourinho had expressed his opposition to any of his players doing exactly that.
‘You are a football player 24 hours a day,’ the Portuguese coach had said. ‘Everything reflects the job.
‘What you eat, what you drink, how you sleep, even things in your private life. You cannot ski. You cannot ride a bike.
‘You fall off your bike, and you don’t play three matches maybe, or maybe worse, maybe you break a leg… there are a lot of things you have to give up to be a football player.’
Mourinho was left dismayed at Kylian Mbappe after the striker went on a bike ride last week
Mourinho reportedly gave his key man a dressing down after returning to the Bernabeu and urged him to be more subtle with his antics off the pitch.
Marca journalist Pablo Polo added: ‘Mourinho did not appreciate how Mbappe managed his recovery. His movements and also the fact that he arrived on Monday after training.’
Real have had a mixed start to the campaign under Mourinho, with his side having won five of their first seven LaLiga games, leaving them six points adrift of Barcelona.
They return to action on Saturday with a home game against Villarreal before travelling to Roma in the Champions League next Wednesday.
