"I thought it was difficult to imagine Mourinho returning — but today I see him as one of the serious candidates." That's not a rumour from an anonymous source. That's Miguel Angel Nadal, former Barcelona and Spain defender, speaking plainly to BetBrothers.es.
The idea of Mourinho back at the Bernabéu has never completely died. It surfaces whenever Madrid wobble, gets dismissed, then quietly resurfaces again. Nadal has now given it a sharper edge.
What Nadal actually sees at Madrid
His case isn't built on sentiment. Nadal's argument is that Real Madrid, despite their young talent, have lost something structural. The team has been "let down in many games" where the quality was there to do more. That points to a coaching problem — or at least a leadership gap.
"There aren't many coaches who could get the whole squad in the right condition to demand the maximum," he said. That narrows the field fast.
Mourinho's first stint at Madrid was chaotic, confrontational, and delivered trophies. A La Liga title, two Copa del Rey finals, consistent Champions League runs. Whatever the noise around him, the results were real. For a club that assesses managers by presence as much as tactics, that CV still carries weight — and any odds on Mourinho returning to management at the top level deserve a second look.
Simeone stays put — for now
Nadal also pushed back on the idea of Diego Simeone heading to Chelsea. He described Simeone's connection to Atlético Madrid as "special and unique" — the kind of bond that doesn't get broken by an English transfer offer. Italy, Nadal suggested, once felt more plausible than England.
Atlético face Arsenal on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal. Nadal was direct about their chances: Bayern Munich and PSG are the stronger favourites. Simeone will need to prove him wrong, starting this week.
