Madrid....The seismic return of José Mourinho to the Santiago Bernabéu is no longer just summer gossip. According to Spanish daily Esdiario, the Portuguese tactician has officially submitted a list of radical conditions to President Florentino Pérez. This is not a request for a simple coaching job; it is a blueprint for a total power grab.
Total Control & A Two-Year Ultimatum
Mourinho has demanded a two-year contract, but the duration is the least important detail. The core of his demand is absolute authority in squad building. He wants to be the sole architect of the next project, wielding the final say on both incoming transfers and the exit door.
The 'Blacklist' of Seven
In a move reminiscent of his 2010 purge (when he exiled the likes of Raúl and Guti), Mourinho has identified seven current players who do not fit his "technical project." He is demanding the club green-light their immediate departure, sending a clear signal that no ego is bigger than the dressing room discipline.
A Coup in the Medical Room
The most personal strike is directed at fitness coach Antonio Pintus. Despite Pintus being widely respected in world football, Mourinho holds him responsible for the team's recurring injury crisis. He is demanding Pintus’s immediate dismissal and the installation of an independent medical panel that bypasses the club’s traditional hierarchy.
The Commercial Ceasefire
One demand that will delight the squad focuses on logistics. Mourinho wants a drastic reduction in the club's lucrative summer tours in the United States and Asia. He believes the relentless commercial travel has sabotaged pre-season physical preparation, and he insists on a Europe-centric pre-season schedule.
The Arbeloa Clause
While demanding heads to roll, Mourinho is also demanding loyalty. He has stipulated that club legend Álvaro Arbeloa—a key soldier from the 2010-2013 "Mou-era"—must remain on the coaching staff. Arbeloa would act as the bridge between the manager and a divided dressing room.
The Direct Line to the President
Perhaps the most significant demand is political. Mourinho has refused to work with intermediaries or sporting directors. He requires a direct line of communication with Florentino Pérez for every major decision regarding the squad. He wants to report to no one but the king himself.
The Boardroom Battle
According to Esdiario, the Real Madrid board is currently studying the demands. The club is split down the middle: one faction believes Mourinho is the only personality strong enough to end the "post-Ancelotti hangover" and restore discipline after a season of internal crises. The other faction views these demands as a dictatorship that would undermine the club's institutional structure.
Mourinho led Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, breaking the La Liga record with 100 points and dethroning the greatest Barcelona side in history. He left amid clashes with Ramos, Casillas, and the media. Now, eight years later, he is demanding even more power than he had back then.
The clock is ticking. Real Madrid must decide within days whether to surrender the keys to the kingdom or walk away from the "Special One" forever.