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Mourinho arrives at Valdebebas to begin quiet rebuild without Real Madrid fanfare

·By Paul Lindisfarne
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Mourinho arrives at Valdebebas to begin quiet rebuild without Real Madrid fanfare

Benfica/X.com

José Mourinho visited Valdebebas for the first time on Wednesday, holding meetings with Real Madrid's sporting directors on transfers and pre-season logistics ahead of a formal presentation expected in July.

According to OKDIARIO, the visit was organisational rather than ceremonial. Mourinho toured facilities that have changed substantially since his first spell at the club, greeted long-standing employees, and sat down with the sporting department to review the squad that awaits him.

No official announcement has been made. No press conference has been scheduled. The club considers the timing of a formal communication immaterial — the plan is set, the work is under way, and the announcement will come when it comes.

The first full day of non-World Cup players returning to training is set for July 13. Mourinho's formal presentation will take place around that date, when the squad is reassembled.

In the meantime, he is not idle. The 63-year-old has been in constant contact with the sporting directorate for several weeks, participating remotely in decisions before his physical arrival. He has already signed off on three summer operations: centre-back Ibrahima Konaté, arriving free from Liverpool; wing-back Denzel Dumfries, joining from Inter Milan; and attacking midfielder Nico Paz, returning from Como for €9 million.

The Julián Álvarez situation has been fully briefed to him. When Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez publicly previewed the €150 million bid on the campaign trail, Mourinho is understood to have immediately asked for a full update and to have been given detailed information about both the player and the negotiations. The rejection earlier this week came as no surprise.

More signings are expected before pre-season. The dressing room Mourinho inherits requires more than structural reinforcement — it requires authority and order. The Valverde-Tchouaméni altercation is the most public symptom of a squad that lost its internal equilibrium across two troubled seasons.

He brings his trusted backroom staff from Benfica, with assistants João Tralhão and Pedro Machado expected to join alongside analyst Roberto Merella. Former team-mate Pepe is also reported to be in line for a coaching role within the setup.

The Portuguese manager arrives quietly. The moment he actually speaks publicly, the noise will be deafening.