Real Madrid coach José Mourinho stated on Tuesday that he is 'very satisfied' with his squad, considering it complete, even though the club failed to sign midfielder Rodri, who subsequently moved to Barcelona.
During the summer period, Los Blancos updated their squad by signing six players, including record transfers Jan Diodmand, Bernardo Silva, and Marc Cucurella. However, the attempt to acquire Rodri was unsuccessful, meaning that besides former Manchester City playmaker Silva, there was no reinforcement in midfield.
Mourinho told reporters: 'For me, the squad is closed, but the market is still open—you never know if a player who has sat on the bench twice might want to leave.' He added: 'Theoretically, there are no new deals... but anything can happen... In my head, the squad is closed, and I haven't made any requests to anyone. I am very happy with the players I have.'
Considering the departures of midfielders Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos in 2024 and 2025, Madrid had experienced difficulties controlling matches. In a recent La Liga match against Espanyol on Saturday, Mourinho's team won 2-1, starting the game with Silva and Federico Valverde in the center of the pitch.
Mourinho also commented on the condition of Aurélien Tchouaméni, the French defensive midfielder, who was not ready to play against Real Sociedad on Wednesday. The coach explained that the player had an issue, and the vacation was insufficient for recovery. Although the player wanted to try playing, the decision was made not to start the season while unwell. He emphasized that finishing the season with injuries is possible, but starting in August at 100% is not possible. Therefore, he decided together with the staff and medical department to ensure the player's full recovery.
Mourinho expressed confidence in the Uruguayan player Valverde as a midfielder, despite previous coaches using him in various roles, including right-back and right winger. 'For me, he is a central midfield player,' noted Mourinho, adding that depending on the opponent and the team's goals, he could be more fixed in position or more mobile.
The coach also stated that in modern football, positional roles are becoming less significant. He believes that attempts to identify Tchouaméni as a No. 6, Camavinga as a No. 6, Fede as a No. 8, or Bernardo as a No. 10 only blur the picture during the game.