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Former Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has surfaced as a leading contender to succeed Álvaro Arbeloa at the end of the season, and the potential return of "the Special One" could carry significant implications—both positive and negative—for the current squad at the Bernabéu.
Following yet another trophy-less campaign, Los Blancos are in urgent need of a change in direction. Despite boasting some of the finest talent in world football, the club finds itself at a crossroads, one that only the right personality in the dugout can help them overcome.
Club president Florentino Pérez is said to regard Mourinho, who previously led Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, as the perfect man to restore the 15-time European champions to their former heights.
Should the high-profile appointment come to fruition, there will be clear winners and losers whose fortunes would reverberate well beyond the Spanish capital.
Winners
Federico Valverde
Federico Valverde is precisely the kind of player Mourinho adores: unselfish, adaptable, and tireless. The Uruguayan is capable of filling virtually any role on the pitch, and has proven that over the past two seasons. Need an emergency right back? Valverde steps in. A winger on the right side? He's more than capable. Aurélien Tchouaméni requires a partner in a double pivot? Valverde is the answer.
The midfielder's commitment to covering every blade of grass, tracking back, and handling the unglamorous work for his side will not be lost on Mourinho—quite the opposite, it will be embraced, as will his seemingly inexhaustible energy levels. Valverde possesses the fitness required to execute the brand of football the Portuguese tactician would bring to the Bernabéu.
Coupled with his precise passing and dangerous right foot, Valverde is virtually guaranteed to become a firm favorite of his potential new manager, who would equip his captain with everything needed to flourish. On top of that, he might finally receive more support from his teammates if Mourinho has his way.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
There's a scenario in which Trent Alexander-Arnold could be considered both a winner and a loser under a Mourinho regime. After all, the fullback has never been known for the defensive solidity and intensity the Portuguese boss typically demands from his players.
However, Mourinho's influence could ultimately be the guiding force Alexander-Arnold needs to sharpen his contributions in his own half. Jürgen Klopp and Arne Slot at Liverpool rarely made defending a priority for the England international. He then spent much of Xabi Alonso's tenure at Real Madrid sidelined through injury, before returning under Álvaro Arbeloa, who adopted a similarly attack-minded philosophy to Klopp.
Playing under a defensively focused manager for the first time could transform Alexander-Arnold into a more complete player—but only if the right back commits fully to the cause.
Losers
Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Junior escaped Xabi Alonso's tenure only to potentially land under a manager who would demand even more from him. Mourinho would have little tolerance for the winger's reluctance to press or contribute defensively, which would almost certainly spark a significant clash between their two strong personalities.
Further complicating matters is the ugly incident that unfolded when Mourinho's Benfica hosted Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League knockout phase playoffs. Vinicius Jr alleged that Gianluca Prestianni directed racial abuse at him, though the Argentine maintained he had used a homophobic slur instead, ultimately resulting in a six-match ban, with three games suspended for two years.
Mourinho subsequently implied that Vinicius Jr's goal celebration had provoked the abuse, before arguing that Benfica could never be a racist club because "the greatest figure in the history of this club [Eusébio] was Black."
It would be remarkable if any player could set aside such remarks and willingly work under the same manager.
Jude Bellingham
Over the past two seasons, Jude Bellingham has been pushed into a deeper midfield role, whether to fit a manager's tactical blueprint or to cover for injured teammates. While he continues to make an impact, he is far from the attacking threat he once was.
Bellingham is at his most dangerous when given the freedom to advance. That creative latitude allows the England international to act as a playmaker or take matters into his own hands with incisive runs into the penalty area, where his clinical finishing truly shines.
Yet Mourinho could well become the next manager to place restrictions on Bellingham in the name of a more structured, disciplined system. The midfielder would still find opportunities to contribute in attack, but he would be far from the free-roaming force he so impressively was during his debut campaign in the famous white jersey.