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Real Madrid icon Jorge Valdano has dismissed the possibility of José Mourinho returning to the Bernabéu this summer, describing the Benfica coach's tenure in the Spanish capital as "a closed chapter."
With Madrid facing a second straight season without silverware, the club is bracing for significant changes in the summer. Álvaro Arbeloa appears very unlikely to remain as head coach beyond the season's end, having been unable to steady the ship following Xabi Alonso's mid-season exit.
Several names have been linked with Madrid ahead of the transfer window, with Jürgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino, Didier Deschamps and Mourinho among those most frequently mentioned.
Mourinho initially seemed like a long shot to return to the club he managed from 2010–2013, but speculation surrounding the 63-year-old Portuguese coach has intensified in recent weeks.
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez continues to hold Mourinho in high regard, while Kylian Mbappé was seen liking a social media post backing the two-time Champions League winner's return to the Bernabéu.
Mourinho Not Coming Back, Says Valdano
One figure who remains unconvinced about a Mourinho comeback is Valdano. The 70-year-old former Madrid player, coach and sporting director—now a familiar face as a TV analyst in Spain—was quick to dismiss Mourinho's candidacy as he worked through the list of contenders on Movistar Plus+ .
"Mourinho is a closed chapter at the club and I don't think he'll be coming back," he said.
Valdano and Mourinho share a complicated history. The former Argentina striker served as director general under Pérez during Mourinho's first stint at Madrid and was among several individuals who clashed with the outspoken Portuguese manager.
He departed his directorial position in 2011, citing "confusion of roles between his and that of the coach", as he battled Mourinho for sporting authority.
Valdano Names His Preferred Choices
Valdano also ruled out former Liverpool manager Klopp as a realistic option for Madrid.
He said: "Klopp needs a year to build a team, and I find it hard to believe that at a club like Real Madrid he can have just one year because results are needed first."
Valdano was more enthusiastic when discussing international coaches Deschamps, who is stepping down as France manager after the World Cup, and Pochettino, whose future with the USMNT remains uncertain.
"Pochettino is a manager who has twice come very close to joining Real Madrid. And when that happens, it's because it's clear that he's a type of manager who is very attractive to the club," he said.
On Deschamps, he added: "We are talking about a coach who is a world champion and could be a good fit for Real Madrid. We must remember that they have players like [Aurélien] Tchouaméni, [Eduardo] Camavinga, and Mbappé, and he is a coach who knows them and has managed them well."
Andy Headspeath is a Real Madrid correspondent for Sports Illustrated FC. Originally from the UK, the weather, culture and soccer lured him to Spain over a decade ago where he lives with his wife, son and two untrainable dogs. A player of unspeakably limited talents and only one fully functional knee, he has more than a decade's experience in a wide variety of editorial roles within sports media, from match reporting to in-depth feature writing and interviews. He specializes in soccer history and culture, as well as—of course—La Liga.