Among all the changes made at Real Madrid during the summer, the appointment of Jose Mourinho was one of the club’s first major moves as they looked to usher in a new era.
Mourinho was heavily involved in planning Real Madrid’s squad throughout the summer, with the club spending a significant amount of money on new players during the transfer window.
However, Real Madrid’s squad and coaching setup could have looked very different, as Mourinho was also in contention to become the manager of the Portugal national team.
According to AS, Mourinho turned down the opportunity to take charge of his country in order to answer Real Madrid’s call.
The situation unfolded in the weeks following the World Cup, after Portugal’s disappointing campaign and the subsequent dismissal of Roberto Martinez.
The search for a new head coach initially focused on Mourinho, who had held talks with officials from the Portuguese Football Federation and had even discussed certain conditions as the basis for a potential agreement.
But that was precisely when Florentino Perez stepped in.
The Real Madrid president approached Mourinho, who was then in charge of Benfica, and asked him to return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Perez followed a formula that had previously worked with Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti, bringing back a manager who had already enjoyed success at the club.
Mourinho did not hesitate. He answered Real Madrid’s call and left Benfica after the Spanish giants triggered his release clause.
Portugal, meanwhile, understood the situation and turned to Jorge Jesus instead.
However, Mourinho’s second spell at Real Madrid has got off to a difficult start.
Real Madrid are already six points behind runaway leaders Barcelona after suffering defeats against Real Betis and Atletico Madrid.
Their performances have been inconsistent, with the team lacking intensity and cohesion, while reports have once again suggested that there are problems inside the dressing room.
As a result, Mourinho has come under increasing criticism. Former player Poli Rincon was among those to recently question the Portuguese coach, going as far as calling for his dismissal.
