Real Madrid appointing Jose Mourinho as their next permanent manager is an idea that has been 'agreed for months', according to journalist Guillem Balague.
Real Madrid looked to have secured a manager for the long-term when they appointed Xabi Alonso as their new boss last summer, but after just eight months in charge the Spaniard was sacked by president Florentino Perez.
The dismissal of Alonso by Real Madrid came on the back of a Spanish Super Cup defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona, who they trailed by four points in the league table at the time.
Alvaro Arbeloa took charge until the end of the season but it's fair to say things haven't worked out, with Los Blancos knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Paris Saint-Germain having beaten Manchester City in the round of 16.
Worse still has been how the La Liga season has turned out, with Barcelona confirming their 29th league title by beating Real 2-0 at the Camp Nou last weekend.
At that stage, Real were 14 points behind Hansi Flick's side with three matches to play, although they closed the gap to 11 by beating Real Oviedo 2-0 on Thursday night.
Balague: Move for Mourinho in Place Since January
Jose Mourinho Benfica
GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs revealed earlier this week that Real Madrid are advancing in talks to re-hire Jose Mourinho for a second time following his previous spell in charge at the Bernabeu between 2010-2013.
The news has been reaffirmed by fellow journalist Guillem Balague, speaking on the latest episode of the GMS Market Madness podcast, as he claimed the groundwork has been laid for the appointment since Alonso was fired at the beginning of 2026.
When asked if Mourinho would be the next Real manager, the reporter said:
"Yes. And that has been agreed for months, basically since the moment that Xabi Alonso was sacked.
"Florentino Perez got in touch with Jorge Mendes, asking about Enzo Maresca, asking about Jose Mourinho this season and next season, and conversations started then.
"So since January, things have been put in place for Jose Mourinho to become the next manager of Real Madrid, because Florentino Perez feels that he needs another alpha male to sort out that immature changing room."
Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham Footage Goes Viral After Real Madrid Boos
Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham Footage Goes Viral After Real Madrid Boos
Despite his superstar status and scoring 41 goals in 42 matches for the club this term, Mbappe was welcomed by a chorus of boos when he came on as a substitute against Real Oviedo at the Bernabeu.
The France international returned from a hamstring injury on Thursday, having taken a holiday to Sardinia during his absence.
Following the second successive season without silverware at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid supporters' anger is increasing and Mbappe has been one of the scapegoats for their issues.
The 27-year-old caused more controversy in his post-match interviews as he claimed he is currently Real Madrid's 'fourth-choice striker'.
The Mbappe issue isn't the only problem facing Mourinho or any other incoming manager, following the huge training ground bust-up involving Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni earlier this month, which saw the former hospitalised and both players fined €500,000 each.