This nightmare 2025/26 season is soon to come to a close for Real Madrid fans, who witnessed yet another low point off the pitch on Thursday night with Kylian Mbappe's impromptu tirade to the press distracting from a 2-0 win over Real Oviedo.
Jose Mourinho is ticketed by president Florentino Perez to be the savior of the Merengues for the second time in his career, and Madridistas are hoping he can bring a winning mentality back to this maligned group. Here are five players, in particular, whom Mourinho will need to build the next iteration of Los Blancos around.
GK Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois is No. 1, and he is one of the only names there can be no debate about. The man is the real leader at Real Madrid, and despite being one of the world's best at Chelsea - under Mourinho, no less - he still had to prove his meddle in Madrid after a poor first season. Since then, Courtois has been the best in the world, leaving Mou's old foe Iker Casillas but a fleeting memory.
CM Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham has been a bit of a disappointment on the pitch this season, yet any Real Madrid fan who watches every week will tell you he is still the best center midfielder on this team. And in his first campaign in the Spanish capital, he was the league's best player in 2023/24. If Mourinho can unlock the most impactful version of Jude and use him as more than just a runner to do everyone else's dirty work, that could be a big step in getting Real back on track.
AM Arda Guler
Arda Guler is the only Real Madrid star to enhance his reputation this season. The leader in chances created this Champions League season, Guler is a creative genius and the one guy who can produce moments of true magic as a passer. He is rapidly ascending in world football and will be one of Mourinho's biggest gems.
LW Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Junior hasn't been at his best since Kylian Mbappe's arrival, but nobody can say that he does not care or does not try. Jose Mourinho may not have treated Vini Jr. the best during the racism row with Benfica, but it's clear from reports in the media that he knows who the real voice of the locker room is. Every coach besides Xabi Alonso has got along great with Vini, and that tells you all you need to know.
CM Fede Valverde
Fede Valverde also had a rough time with Alonso, yet he oozed Madridismo throughout his time with the other managers, especially Don Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane. Valverde will run for miles for this team and has been central to two Champions League winning sides. He is a proven winner who will go to the death for a manager if that manager shares his vision, and Mourinho and Valverde are two win-at-all-costs guys who will get along tremendously.
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