Jude Bellingham focus as Mourinho sleeps at Madrid base
Jose Mourinho has slept at Real Madrid's training ground on a few occasions this summer to stay on top of every department as he rebuilds the club. That all-in approach matters for Jude Bellingham and co.: Mourinho must fit the England star with Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior without repeating last season's attack and dressing-room chaos.
Key Takeaways
- Mourinho has slept at Madrid's training ground several times to cover every task in his second spell.
- He insists Jude Bellingham, Mbappé and Vinícius are not "incompatible," though finding roles is "difficult."
- Madrid spent about €250m this summer and open La Liga at Espanyol on Saturday.
- Bellingham's club output fell last season; Tuchel used him as a No. 10 at the World Cup.
- Mourinho says Tchouaméni and Valverde now show friendship after last season's clash.
After two seasons without a major trophy, Real Madrid restored Mourinho and backed him with their biggest summer spend since 2019, The Athletic reports. His return was confirmed in June. Madrid travel to Espanyol on Saturday for his first competitive game since coming back.
Why has Jose Mourinho been sleeping at the training ground?
Sources close to Mourinho say he is excited about this second chapter and has been fully committed, even sleeping at the training ground on a few occasions so he has time for every task. He also slept at Benfica's training ground sometimes last season.
He has reviewed departments across the club and brought in seven specialists, some from Benfica. That on-site grind — work over rest — sits near other extreme performance routines tracked in our Longevity & Biohacking hub, without presenting it as a recovery method.
Can Jude Bellingham thrive with Mbappé and Vinícius?
Mourinho called the trio "incredible players" but said the tactical structure could be more difficult. Ancelotti, Deschamps and Tuchel found strong roles for each with their national sides; replicating that for all three at club level is harder.
"I don't think they're incompatible at all," he said, per ESPN. The BBC notes Jude Bellingham scored eight goals and five assists in 40 appearances last season, down from 23 goals and 13 assists in his first Madrid campaign. At the World Cup, Tuchel used him mainly as a No. 10.
Mourinho wants all three to feel comfortable together and said he is very confident of a strong season with them. Commitment, he added, is non-negotiable every minute of every match.
What else must Mourinho fix before the opener?
Madrid committed around €250million on arrivals including Yan Diomande, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté, Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva and Carlos Espí. Vinícius renewed until 2032. Diomande was signed to boost the right flank, where attacking threat had been thinner than on the left where Mbappé, Vinícius and Jude Bellingham operate.
Asked about Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde after their training-ground clash last season, Mourinho said he started from zero and now sees friendship and cooperation — "as if nothing had happened." Ending a season without trophies at Real Madrid, he said, is not a successful season.