Mourinho was the first to understand the Rodri situation

 José Mourinho is a happy man.

He is happy because he wears the Real Madrid crest on his chest for most of the day. In other words, he is working where he wants, under the conditions he wants and with the players he wants.

Since Florentino Pérez decided in the final days of April that bringing the Portuguese coach back was the best option, the understanding between Mourinho and the club’s leadership has been complete and absolute, including during the uncertain crisis surrounding the Rodri situation this past week.

A relationship built on dialogue

Since the now-distant meeting at Madrid’s Santo Mauro hotel with José Ángel Sánchez and Juni Calafat, the dialogue between the club’s two executives and Mourinho has been constant.

Of course, the coach has asked for players. He has also told some players directly and in person that they do not feature in his plans. But everything has been done in agreement with the club. There has not been a moment of tension.

At that meeting, they discussed Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva and his versatility, the possibility of strengthening the center of defense and midfield, and the need to add more speed to the attack, among other things.

Mourinho has not made demands. From the very beginning, he has put the team’s needs on the table for discussion.

Rodri emerged during those conversations, and everyone eventually came to see, particularly during the World Cup, that he could be an important addition. Real Madrid made an offer, but the midfielder opted for another proposal, in this case from Barcelona. There was never an agreement with the player, and even less so with Manchester City, with whom Real Madrid never entered into negotiations.

The club’s executives accepted the situation, as did Mourinho. The coach has not created the first crisis of his second spell, despite what some people appear to be looking for, nor has he reacted in any dramatic fashion.

Mourinho knows there are still three weeks left in the transfer window and that everyone at Valdebebas is doing everything possible to build the strongest squad possible. They are doing so through open dialogue between all parties.

Of course, Mourinho would have liked to see Rodri in white, but it has not been a trauma, much less a reason to create a major disturbance or throw a tantrum, however you want to describe it.

Since the Santo Mauro meeting, Mourinho himself had argued for the need to sign Bernardo Silva, pointing out that the Portuguese could serve as the team’s creative hub. Two months after that meeting, he will have the chance to do exactly that and prove his coach right.

Real Madrid remains patient in midfield

Does that mean the door is closed? No. It will not be closed until the final whistle sounds on the transfer window.

Does it mean Real Madrid is going all-in on signing a midfielder? Not necessarily. More than anything, that is because neither Mourinho nor the club’s executives are convinced that the market currently offers a player with comparable qualities.

They are searching and monitoring the situation, but they are doing so calmly and with the confidence that the players currently available, Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler and Aurélien Tchouaméni, can form a competitive midfield partnership while they wait to see what happens with Eduardo Camavinga.

Mourinho has total control

The area in which Mourinho has set the tone completely is the day-to-day rules at Real Madrid’s training complex, which AS revealed several days ago.

For Mourinho, there is absolute order and authority. He is happy to be back at what he himself acknowledges as his home.

The coach has been clear with his players, and everyone appreciates it, including those who know they are not part of his plans once the transfer window closes. That could bring one or two changes to the current squad.

And all of it is being handled through dialogue, without anger or confrontation.

There will be more difficult moments. Competitive tension will inevitably arrive. But for now, Mourinho is getting exactly what he wanted from his return to Real Madrid: authority, dialogue and a club moving in the same direction as its coach.