Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has to regroup from another midfield transfer blow, as Los Blancos did not make a serious enough offer for Manchester City star Rodri, who will be bound for Barcelona after Florentino Perez only showed the bare minimum interest in the World Cup Golden Ball No. 6.
Despite Mourinho throwing support in the press for Aurelien Tchouameni, who just signed a rather undeserving contract extension with the Royal White club after another poor campaign in midfield, it was obvious that the Portuguese manager was dreaming of a blockbuster for a true world class anchor in Rodri.
But Mourinho does have great options available in Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler, and Fede Valverde, when properly motivated, is a world class center midfielder, too. But there is a trio of players Mourinho must be careful to avoid playing together at all costs, because they are awful even against relegation fodder in La Liga.
Real Madrid have the Bermuda Triangle
Real Madrid cannot play a midfield trio of all of Fede, Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga all at once. These three players are being jokingly referred to by Madridistas as the "Bermuda Triangle", with the refrain being that the ball will be lost when these three pass amongst each other, and it is then only a matter of time before Thibaut Courtois is set to have to bail them out after facing a clear shot on target after a swift loss in possession.
And while it is a bit humorous, it is on the nose. Real Madrid are terrible when Fede Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga all play together. Fede with another combination is still very good, even after last season's issues, and Tchouameni is not the worst defensive midfielder in the world. Meanwhile, Camavinga has slowly become a big liability, but his problems are further exacerbated when it is this trio in midfield - and not, say, Cama playing with Jude Bellingham and Fede without Tchou.
Equally, Jose Mourinho has to know which combinations work and which do not work. He does not have to play the same three every game, and that would be unwise as it would lead to burnout and injuries. And he can play even the unwanted Camavinga to give him a run around, too. But Fede, Tchou, and Cama together? Doing that is a license to lose games, even against the Elches and Malagas of the Spanish top flight in 2026/27.
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