Real Madrid’s return to league action is approaching, with Villarreal preparing to visit the Bernabéu on Saturday without Tajon Buchanan but with an ambitious approach. Away from the match preparations, José Mourinho has discussed his return to Madrid and revisited several controversies, while reports on Dani Carvajal, Endrick and Toni Kroos point to possible next steps in their careers. There is also a new addition to the Bernabéu’s entertainment calendar.
Mourinho discusses his Madrid return and the Vinícius–Prestianni controversy
José Mourinho has given an extensive interview
to Corriere dello Sport, reflecting on his return to Real Madrid, his relationship with Roma and his handling of the incident involving Vinícius Júnior and Gianluca Prestianni during last season’s Champions League.
“The buzz started when there was no contact at all”
Mourinho said the speculation about his second spell at Madrid began before the club had approached him. At that stage, he maintained, his expectation was to continue at Benfica.
“Normally, there’s initial contact, and then the buzz starts when something’s actually happening. Here, it was exactly the opposite: the buzz started when there was no contact at all. I was at Benfica, happy. It’s a special club for me, just ten minutes from home, something that hadn’t happened for twenty years. It was a club that needed a radical change. I thought I’d stay there with my three-year contract,” he said.
“When the rumors started, I thought: ‘This can’t be true.’ I was at Benfica, focused on Benfica, focused on Benfica’s future. I never thought it was true.”
Mourinho revisits his handling of the Prestianni incident
Asked about the controversy involving Prestianni and Vinícius, Mourinho described the episode as particularly difficult to manage while he was Benfica coach.
“It was a very delicate and difficult point for us, because in the end, Prestianni was disqualified not because of racism. I was a victim of public opinion, mainly of many opportunists, due to a completely uncontrollable situation,” Mourinho said.
“What I really like about the end of this story is that, on one hand, there was a fantastic guy, and on the other, a perfect guy. It was a problem, but in the end, I got to know both of them.”
UEFA’s disciplinary decision on April 24 sanctioned Prestianni for homophobic discriminatory conduct. It imposed a six-match suspension, with three matches suspended for a two-year probationary period. That is the disciplinary outcome behind Mourinho’s distinction regarding the basis of the punishment.
Referees, Manchester City and football’s changing structures
Mourinho also returned to his relationship with referees, linking his experiences in different countries to the controversies surrounding those competitions.
“I don’t think the problem is me. The problem is the bad luck I have when I arrive at a particular club. I experienced Negreira’s important period here at Real Madrid. Nobody knew it, but we lived through it. It happened. It happened. I left afterwards, now everyone knows,” he said.
On Manchester City’s case, he joked about the length of the process and the prospect of further appeals.
“I prefer to laugh a little, because I think we’ll have an ending. We will have an ending. But the two of us, who are nearing 60, should be lucky enough to be here when the final verdict is delivered. Because now the sentence will come, and after a year, there will be an appeal.”
Mourinho was similarly sceptical about the idea that football continually reinvents itself, describing tactical developments as cyclical. He also questioned the growth of clubs’ travelling staff, contrasting a page of players’ hotel rooms with a much longer list for analysts, media personnel and other employees.
“There is no evolution. It’s a cycle. It comes and goes, they say. Because you always come back,” he said.
Ancelotti’s photographs and an emotional return to Rome
There was a lighter exchange about Carlo Ancelotti, with Mourinho recalling the Brazil coach’s interest in the fitness and development of Madrid’s Brazilian players. He joked about how frequently he encounters reminders of his predecessor around the training complex.
“Carlo, I’m fed up with you, because every day I walk down the corridor: pictures of Carlo here, pictures of Carlo there. I’m fed up with you!”
Mourinho’s discussion of Roma was more reflective. Ahead of Madrid’s Champions League visit on October 14, he said his departure had not diminished his affection for the club.
“The farewell broke my heart. There isn’t, and never will be, a single word from me against Roma or its ownership: when I leave, I leave with clean hands and with the feeling that it will be my home forever. The day I arrived, there were thousands of people to welcome me, and I hadn’t even done anything yet. I don’t deserve this, but that’s Roma.”
On returning as an opponent, he added:
“I have to prepare because it’s the first time I’m going without the support of the Giallorossi fans. I don’t expect chants or banners, just a lot of respect.”
As for his longer-term future, Mourinho’s answer was straightforward: “As long as I have my health, I will continue training.”
Why Carvajal’s agreed salary does not settle his Getafe registration
Dani Carvajal’s potential move to Getafe remains complicated by LaLiga’s financial-control assessment, even after the player and club reached an economic understanding. Getafe president Ángel Torres has said the former Madrid defender passed his medical, but registration is a separate obstacle.
According to DAZN journalist Pablo Pinto, the figure being assigned to Carvajal for squad-cost purposes is €2.6 million annually—higher than the salary reportedly negotiated between the parties. The distinction is important: that figure is not a transfer fee and does not necessarily represent what Carvajal would receive in wages. It is the amount Getafe would need to accommodate for financial-control purposes.
LaLiga’s assessment considers more than the amount written into a new contract. The criteria described in the reporting include age, injury history, recent appearances, international experience, honours, contract duration and market conditions. Consequently, accepting a lower salary does not automatically make a player eligible for registration within a club’s available limit.
There is also a contractual point still under discussion. Roberto Gómez reported on Radio MARCA that Carvajal wants an exit clause allowing him to leave during the winter window if another opportunity arises.
“What Carvajal wants is a clause that would allow him to leave if he receives an offer from another team during the winter transfer window,” Gómez said.
Pinto has also reported that request. Between the registration valuation and the proposed January exit mechanism, the move remains unresolved rather than a completed signing.
Roma’s Wesley reportedly contacts Endrick as Milan remain interested
Endrick continues to attract interest from Italy, with Corriere dello Sport reporting that Roma wing-back Wesley has contacted his Brazil teammate about the possibility of joining him in January. According to the account, Wesley told Endrick how pleased he would be to welcome him to Rome and share a dressing room.
The contact is described as an exchange between friends, rather than a formal club-to-club agreement. Roma and AC Milan are both being linked with the Madrid forward as his search for more playing time draws attention ahead of the winter window.
The same reporting identifies the structure of any potential move as an issue still to be resolved: Madrid’s preference is described as a loan, while Roma would like an arrangement including a purchase option and a buy-back mechanism. There is no completed agreement in that account.
The immediate meeting between the clubs will take place on the pitch, with Madrid visiting the Stadio Olimpico in the Champions League on October 14.
Tchouaméni: “I took risks… but I don’t regret anything”
Aurélien Tchouaméni has acknowledged that he played through pain at the World Cup, explaining that the tournament’s importance influenced decisions he might not have made under different circumstances. Speaking to France 24, the midfielder said those choices subsequently affected him physically.
“From the third or fourth match onwards, and even a little before, I was in pain. Obviously, it’s a World Cup, so we try to do everything possible to be as prepared as possible and perform at our best on the pitch. I took risks that I might not have taken at another time, but I don’t regret anything. The players understand that sometimes there are circumstances that demand you give your all. And that’s what I did. I paid the price afterward, but it’s part of my story and I have no regrets about it.”
Asked about his performance in France’s defeat to Spain, Tchouaméni accepted that he had not been able to show his usual level.
“No, obviously, I wasn’t the real Aurélien Tchouaméni. But it’s not the first time it’s happened, and it won’t be the last. There are many moments during a competition when we talk with the medical and coaching staff; you have to do what’s necessary to be on the pitch, and that’s what I did.”
Looking ahead, he expressed his determination to return to the national team under Zinedine Zidane.
“There’s a new manager here who’s doing a very good job, and any ambitious player aspires to play for the French national team. It’s like everything in life: if you perform well, it will happen.”
He declined to choose between the French Ballon d’Or candidates, offering only: “Obviously, it has to be a Frenchman.”
Villarreal lose Buchanan but plan to press Madrid
Villarreal will be without Tajon Buchanan for Saturday’s match after the winger returned from international duty with a muscle injury. Coach Iñigo Pérez confirmed the absence while reporting better news on Juan Foyth and Santi Comesaña.
“Buchanan will not be available. He has a minor muscle injury. We don’t know how long he will be out. He is committed and will work to return as soon as possible. Comesaña and Foyth have trained well these past few weeks and are available,” Iñigo said.
Nathan Saliba, Tani Oluwaseyi and Alex Freeman had not rejoined Thursday’s session following their international commitments, while Santi Mouriño was back with the group. The late arrivals leave Villarreal with limited time to prepare collectively, but Iñigo said he would not use the schedule as an excuse.
“You’ll never hear me complain about these things. I don’t waste energy on something that’s predetermined. We focus on how, in a single day, we’re going to implement the things we want to see at the Bernabéu.”
Iñigo wants aggression rather than a retreat
The Villarreal coach described the Bernabéu as an opportunity to demonstrate his team’s level, while acknowledging the need to withstand periods of Madrid pressure. His preferred approach, however, is to make the visitors active participants rather than allow the game to be played entirely on Madrid’s terms.
“I envision a match where we can press high, knowing they’ll look to attack the space behind us. With the ball, I imagine we’ll dominate, and they’ll wait for a mistake, a slip-up, to attack and hurt us. The players repeat patterns, their behavior is clear, because they’re usually successful, so we know what’s going to happen in each situation. The key is how we approach the match so they don’t hurt us. I hope we’re clinical in both penalty areas.”
Iñigo also stressed that the approach requires conviction from the coaching staff as well as the players.
“There is a key emotional component; the coach has to be convinced. He has to convince them that their energy will be spent going forward, not backward.”
Despite a Champions League meeting with Napoli following the Madrid fixture, he said his immediate focus remained Saturday’s game rather than potential rotations.
Cardona: “You have to play a brave game”
Sergi Cardona expressed a similar view in an interview with AS, arguing that Villarreal must be willing to challenge Madrid rather than simply try to contain them.
“We always see Real Madrid for what they are: one of the best teams you can face. We’re aware that it’s always difficult there, but I think the team is capable of winning on that pitch. I sincerely believe it’s a great opportunity for us after everything we’ve been through. The idea is to go there and be brave. If you want to beat Real Madrid, you have to play a brave game, going toe-to-toe with them.”
The full-back said that allowing Madrid to choose when to accelerate would create its own problems.
“The footballer always prefers to attack and go after his opponent, and I also think they wouldn’t prefer a team that goes after them and makes things difficult for them. They prefer a match where they control the game, where they can accelerate when they want. If you allow them to dictate the pace and attack when they want, controlling the game and the ball, the match will feel very long. If you push forward, you can win back possession and feel strong enough to hurt them; all of that adds energy.”
Kroos reportedly expresses interest in coaching course
Toni Kroos has informed the RFEF that he is interested in joining a coaching course for former professional players during the 2027–28 season, according to AS. The report describes a gradual exploration of coaching rather than an imminent appointment.
Madrid had previously discussed bringing Kroos into the club’s structure, with José Ángel Sánchez speaking to him about a possible role. However, the account says the two sides did not identify the right timing or position, leaving the possibility open rather than completing an agreement. Kroos continues his work with the academy he established in Boadilla.
The reported interest in further training should also be distinguished from qualification to coach at every professional level. UEFA A and UEFA Pro are separate licences, with the Pro pathway providing the preparation for professional head-coaching roles. An interest in enrolling does not establish that Kroos has completed the required qualifications or accepted a job at Madrid.
Arsuaga recalls the Madrid generations at his father’s funeral
Paleoanthropologist Juan Luis Arsuaga has described the moment that made him understand Real Madrid as a lasting community rather than simply a football team. Speaking to AS at the FLEM literary festival in Magaluf, he recalled the funeral of his father, former Madrid player Pedro María Arsuaga.
“My father played for Real Madrid for many years, from 1946 to 1953. But he studied Economics, and when he retired from football, he worked as an economist. So, my father was a very well-educated man. He knew many languages because he loved them. And when he took early retirement, he studied Semitic Philology and was studying Hebrew and Arabic,” he said.
Asked why his father’s death changed his understanding of the club, Arsuaga pointed to the people who came to pay their respects.
“Because when my father died, all generations of footballers came to his funeral. Di Stéfano was there too, even though he already had a lot of trouble walking; he could barely walk anymore. He was younger than my father, not by much, but somewhat. But Pirri and Butragueño came too… All generations came, from those playing now to Di Stéfano.”
“What is a club? Well, it’s a tribe. Sometimes you’re born into that tribe, and sometimes it’s by choice. My father could have chosen another one, but once he joined this one, he became part of it. And he was until the day he died.”
Bernabéu Skywalk to open with Cirque du Soleil experience
The Bernabéu’s Skywalk will open to the public on November 13 with an experience created alongside Cirque du Soleil and Fever. Inspired by Kurios — Cabinet of Curiosities, the attraction will operate until January 10, 2027.
The approximately 45-minute route follows the stadium’s south and west walkways on level 10, combining panoramic views of Madrid with themed spaces including the Accordion Tunnel, the Clouds and the Electric Forest. It ends at the Sky Bar, temporarily transformed into “The Train Station,” where visitors will see a short live performance. The experience is separate from the full Kurios production.
Opening hours are scheduled for 5–11 p.m. on weekdays and noon–11 p.m. on weekends, with last admission at 10 p.m. December 24 and 31 will have special hours.
Tickets will be available through Fever, with a 24-hour presale for those on the waiting list. Prices start at €27 for general admission and €20 for children under 14, varying according to the selected date and time.
Video: Huijsen responds to a question about Mbappé
Dean Huijsen was filmed answering a question about Kylian Mbappé as he arrived at Valdebebas. His brief response directed the question back to the forward, with the exchange subsequently circulating on social media.
Video: Rodrygo shows his touch during recovery
Rodrygo has shared a training clip showcasing his technique as he continues working toward a return.
Madrid’s official update on Thursday still listed the Brazilian among the players continuing their recovery programs, alongside Asencio and Mendy. The clip therefore should not be taken as confirmation of a return to unrestricted team training or match availability.
