Simon Jordan REACTS to Real Madrid TARGETING Jose Mourinho to make SHOCK RETURN as Manager!

I wonder if a certain section of the Real Madrid support is going to be fuming, because there is big talk in Madrid that Jose Mourinho is on his way back there.He didn't exactly ingratiate himself to every Real Madrid fan while he was there first time around, but in view of what's happened to Real Madrid, Maybe there are legs in this story.He is said to be the favorite choice of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to replace Alvaro Arboloa.Arboloa, in interim control at the moment, has overseen 14 wins, two draws, but crucially seven defeats.Real Madrid is set for a second successive trophy -less season.That's virtually unheard of.

To go one season without a trophy is one thing at Real Madrid.To go another one, is virtually unheard of.So is it happening?Mourinho back to Real Madrid.Now, this exploded into headline news just yesterday.Curiously, a different kind of mood in Madrid this morning.

Earlier on, I spoke to the host of La Liga TV, Phil Kitramelidis, and I said to him, so this one's doing the rounds big time, isn't it?

It is not on the front pages of any of the papers this morning.Obviously, Atletico Madrid played in the Champions League.I was looking inside these papers, these Madrid -based sports papers, which are often mouthpieces for the Real Madrid hierarchy.Florentino Perez is a very powerful man and a lot of people often write what he wants them to write.

And there's nothing really about Mourinho.

There is nothing really, from a Madrid perspective, about Mourinho coming back to Real Madrid.They report on the reports that came out yesterday, but there aren't any kind of direct articles from well -placed, well -connected people, the usual suspects who I would expect to see talking about this.You might remember the slightly ridiculous TV show El Chiringuito, where Florentino Pérez went to announce the Super League all those years ago, they had something on it last night and they were saying it's narrowed down to Klopp or Mourinho.But yeah, this is this is a story that has come from outside of Spain rather than inside of Spain.And at the moment, I think they're just sort of reacting to the story rather than giving any information from inside the club.But what I can tell you is that Florentino Perez has wanted Jose Mourinho back for a long time.

He has seen him as a potential problem solver for a while, he has this idealized version of how Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid competed, particularly against one of the best Barcelona sides in history, and won the league off them.So he's thought Jose Mourinho is the potential solution for a while now, and this is a decision from him, and yeah, it's big.

If it was to happen, and we know Mourinho left last time around somewhat under a cloud, how would his return be received?He always leads under some kind of cloud, doesn't he?

I'll tell you what, Mourinho at Real Madrid was one of the most divisive figures this club has ever had.Half the fan base absolutely loved him.Half the fan base absolutely could not stand him.So I think it's going to be absolute box office viewing him coming back, because he would not be universally popular.Let's put it like that.Obviously, he fell out with a number of high -profile players, not least Iker Casillas.

And I saw yesterday Casillas put a post on X with just three emoticons, emojis of popcorn.So he's excited to see what happens.He's not a universally loved figure.That said, you know, the people who love him absolutely love him and would love him to come back and feel like this Real Madrid squad needs someone like him to get the players running again, to build an idea, to build an identity.

I mean Phil, there are so many different subplots to it, aren't there?One wonders how the dynamic would play out between Johnand Vinicius Junior, for example, considering what happened in that recent Champions League tie.

And that recent Champions League, I felt like it was actually kind of burning bridges with Mourinho after what happened.Mourinho is a very good man manager and getting people back on his side.So I think if he was to come and Vinicius was there, I would back him to try and get Vinicius on side.But there is also the subtext and the subplot that Vinicius hasn't signed a new contract yet.And he is about a month away from going into the final year of his contract.And these contract negotiations have gone on a long time.

If Mourinho was to come back, would that influence these contract negotiations?That is something else to bear in mind as well.So yeah, like you said, lots of subplots with this.

Finally, Phil, you're there, I'm not.You're immersed in it.Real Madrid on course for a second successive trophy -less season.They are well and truly in the grip of a crisis, aren't they?

Totally.I mean, they're in the crisis when they lose two games, Jim.So if they've gone two seasons without a trophy, it's a full -blown catastrophe for Real Madrid.And people are saying, you know, big changes are needed.I guess bringing someone like Jose Mourinho would be a... big move.Because you know what's happened?

The idea is that Mbappé has come here and Achille Mbappé has come.They signed him two seasons ago.You know, one of the best players, if not the best player in the world.They just won the European Cup.It looked like they were going to dominate.And they haven't.

And they haven't been able to get the best out of Mbappé and Vinicius and Jude Bellingham.Those three, they're three best players.There have been three managers that have tried to fit those three in a team and get the best out of them.Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Abeloa.None of those three managers have been able to do it.lead the side to a silverware.

So whoever comes in, whether it's Jose or not, has got a big problem up there to try and fix.

Phil Kitramelides, the host of La Liga TV, speaking to me earlier on.Samuel, when you look at it, after all this time and all that baggage, is the lure of Mourinho still not dead?

Well I mean this is a club that can probably cope with Mourinho in terms of baggage because it's a club that has its own baggage with its expectations with his attitude and outlook.This is a club that doesn't turn up with its players to bat on doors because if they don't win they expect to be.This is a club that doesn't think the World Club Championship is worth them competing in because they can get more playing in league games or whatever else we have to listen to them.It's a very rare circumstance.It's happened before in their past where they've gone a couple of seasons without winning anything.There seems to be a slight disconnect between how the players are performing and what the expectations are in terms of some of the attitudes and outlooks.

I read between the lines.And maybe there's a perception.Perez obviously liked Mourinho.I remember watching him go there the first time round.I remember watching him in that game when Barcelona really handed them their head.I think it was five.

We were just talking during a break.And Mourinho learnt from that.I know you don't like him, and he makes you fume, but there is a variety of things that Mourinho brings to something.He's still one of those managers that's bigger than the dressing room.And in certain clubs, that's a commodity that's very, very valuable.

I think he probably feels that they need some discipline.That's my point.They've gone with Alonso, the up -and -coming coach.They brought him in and there was a bit of discipline.The players beat him up, yeah.And then Arbolo struggling.

That dressing room needs a serious leader.I mean, since Ancelotti, they've not found it, have they?And the reality is that, although Ancelotti's a very different character to Mourinho, there's still that seniority experience, that ability to... create discipline and are harmonious.I don't think it's a bad idea, because even if he comes in and doesn't quite get it, they'll just move on to the next one.

But is there not an irony in there somewhere that you're looking to a habitual misbehaviour?to bring you discipline?

No, that does seem a contradiction, doesn't it?But somehow, Mourinho's always been able to court the ill -discipline himself or the bad press and the silliness and keep it away from his players.Maybe that's why he is the way he is. I mean, I think habitual misbehaviour is a bit of a stretch.I mean, we've seen...

Well, we know how he behaved.

The rap sheet is as long as there are.I mean, he's probably managed what... 1 ,200, 1 ,300, 1 ,400 games.And we probably look at the fact that it's on two hands, maybe tops of instances where he stepped across the line.I hear you.There were instances where you think if you're trying to create a culture, then you need to be beyond reproach yourself.But there is also a mentality sometimes, sometimes, not all the time, don't do as I do, do as I say.

And it's one thing having players that are spiky and aggressive to the opposition.It's another thing, having players that are disrespectful towards the club that they're playing for.There are two sets of disciplines.I know what you're doing is conflating the argument, but the argument isn't about the standard of the player's performance and their discipline record, it's about their commitment to the club and their preparedness to do what's required of them, which is the reasons why they saw off Alonso, because they didn't want to follow his direction.Mourinho will bring that.The players will understand where they stand with Mourinho.

There might be a conflict in terms of the fact that he is not the most disciplined individual when it comes to how he behaves in certain sections of the opposition.

And what he says as well.I mean, as recently as that...Yeah, but I take it with a pinch of salt.You don't.As recently as that Benfica -Real Madrid game with the problem with Prestiani earlier on, Vinicius Jr.And he said at the time that Vinicius Jr. brings this upon himself.

I mean, at times...We weren't privy to the context of the conversation.

But his behaviour and some of the things he has said are pretty...

Why am I shameful?I hear you.And given the fact the observation was about racism, he can't ever make that observation.But we don't know the conversation that went on between Vinicius Jr. and Jose Mourinhomight have prompted Jose Mourinho to say that, as ill -advised as it was, because it brings the brickbats to him.He may well not have been referring to the circumstances surrounding the alleged racism, which now seems to have been gone away, and the guy's been charged with homophobic comments, despite Pawelli's best attempts to suggest that it was dyed in the wool.

The fact of the matter is that Mourinho remarked upon something as a result of of a conversation with Vinicius Junior and the conflation of it was that he was basically saying that Vinicius Junior has brought the racism upon himself.

I think, is he still relevant Danny?Should he still be in the conversation to take over allegedly, reportedly the biggest club in the world?

Not on recent jobs, not on recent...He couldn't do it for Fenerbahce against Galatasaray.The other question, of course, is who else is out there who's capable of handling Real Madrid?There's not many.Klopp, isn't he?Klopp is. I mean, I'm sure if Klopp had said yes.

And Filipo Coutinho has mentioned Klopp.

But the other thing, when we talk about Mourinho negatively, I get it where you're going with it, but when you listen, if you go back to his time at Chelsea and his time at Real Madrid where he had success, both big clubs, the players who played under him bar one or two yeah talk about him swore by him absolutely you know and and that's the big thing yeah and that's and that's as much as it might be not for you that's the litmus test of what you do with a manager of of the two danny if you were sat with a choice and saying, who would you want into Real Madrid?

Not that Evas really care that much about Real Madrid, but who would you want to go into Madrid?Would you have Klopp or would you have Mourinho?

No, I'd go Klopp.Would you?Yeah, because I think he's got...I think so too.He's got the lovely balance of having that ability to get players on board and like him like Mourinho does, but also somehow brings the fans together along with him.

Yeah, sure.