According to a report from AS, José Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid is beginning to take clearer shape behind the scenes, with the Portuguese manager reportedly finalizing the majority of his coaching staff ahead of his arrival at Valdebebas.
The report states that Mourinho will bring several trusted collaborators with him from Benfica, including assistants João Tralhão and Pedro Machado, who currently serve on Benfica’s coaching staff. Both figures are considered among Mourinho’s closest tactical
confidants and are expected to play central roles in his new setup at Madrid.
AS also reports that analyst Roberto Merella will join the project. Merella has worked closely with Mourinho for several years, dating back to their time together at Roma. Meanwhile, António Dias is expected to take over as fitness coach, while Nuno Santos is lined up to become the club’s new goalkeeping coach.
Those appointments could have important implications for Antonio Pintus and Luis Llopis, two respected members of Madrid’s current technical structure. While neither is necessarily expected to leave the club outright, their exact responsibilities under Mourinho remain unclear.
The coaching reshuffle will also include departures. AS says Ricardo Formosinho and Ricardo Rocha will not continue as part of Mourinho’s new staff at Real Madrid, although their next destinations have not yet emerged.
One notable detail from the report is Mourinho’s desire to add a senior assistant from within Real Madrid itself. The idea would mirror the role Aitor Karanka occupied during Mourinho’s first spell at the Bernabéu — someone familiar with the club structure who can help bridge the gap between the coaching staff and the institution.
While Tralhão and Machado are expected to be Mourinho’s primary assistants on matchdays, AS describes Mourinho’s internal working dynamic as far less hierarchical than many might assume. Behind closed doors, the environment is reportedly highly collaborative, with every staff member encouraged to contribute ideas before Mourinho makes the final decision.
The majority of the incoming group already has significant experience working together. Tralhão, Machado, and Dias all worked alongside Mourinho during his stint at Fenerbahçe before following him to Benfica. Merella joined Mourinho’s circle during their time at Roma, while Nuno Santos has crossed paths with the Portuguese coach at several clubs, including Tottenham, Roma, and Benfica.
Despite bringing many trusted figures with him, Mourinho is also expected to retain much of Real Madrid’s existing day-to-day infrastructure, particularly within the medical and physiotherapy departments.
As things stand, Mourinho’s reported staff setup would look something like this:
- João Tralhão — Assistant coach
- Pedro Machado — Assistant coach
- António Dias — Fitness coach
- Roberto Merella — Analyst
- Nuno Santos — Goalkeeping coach
- One additional internal assistant — Still undecided
