The circus is back in town. Or rather, the ringmaster. Despite the absence of a confirmed president in the Real Madrid boardroom, the club have presse...
The circus is back in town. Or rather, the ringmaster. Despite the absence of a confirmed president in the Real Madrid boardroom, the club have pressed ahead with what can only be described as a high stakes gamble. Jose Mourinho has put pen to paper on a legally binding contract to take over the Bernabeu dugout, making a mockery of the election uncertainty that has gripped the club for weeks.Let's be honest, this is pure Real Madrid theatre. The club are effectively signing a manager while the front office is in a state of suspended animation. It is a power play, a statement of intent, and a huge vote of confidence in a manager who has always polarised opinion. Mourinho is walking out on Benfica, a project he had only just begun to shape, to return to a place where history is the only currency that matters. You have to ask, what does he know that the fans don'tFrom a tactical standpoint, this is a fascinating move for Los Blancos. The squad is crying out for a strong hand, a return to a low block and devastating transitional play that defined Mourinho's first spell against the Barcelona supremacy of Pep Guardiola. He will not suffer fools. The days of passive possession play will be binned. Expect a midfield built on aggression, full backs who can bomb forward, and a striker who thrives on clinical finishing in tight spaces. Squeaky bum time is coming back to the Spanish capital, and not just for the opposition.Of course, the elephant in the room remains the presidential election. Who is signing these cheques Whoever eventually takes the throne at the Bernabeu has now been handed a fait accompli. Mourinho's return is a massive political statement, suggesting a candidate is already in place who backs the Special One. It is a riGoalZaza bet, but then again, Real Madrid have never been a club for the faint hearted. They have bottled the stability to bottle the glory. This is a move that reeks of both desperation and genius, depending on your seat in the stands.
