Jose Mourinho has brought in three strict rules for every Real Madrid player as the returning manager prepares for a very important season in Spain.
By the incredibly high standards of Real Madrid, the club are currently going through a difficult period. After two straight seasons without a major trophy, the Spanish giants have brought former manager Mourinho back to help turn things around.
Despite signing Kylian Mbappe, who won the European Golden Boot in the 2024-25 season and challenged Harry Kane for the award last season, Real Madrid have struggled to return to the top. The Champions League giants have not won their favourite European competition since 2023 and have also lost two La Liga title races to long-time rivals Barcelona during that period.
Mourinho has strengthened his squad with several important signings during a busy transfer window. Real Madrid brought in Premier League stars Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate on free transfers. They also signed Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella, who helped Spain win the World Cup in July, for €60 million. Denzel Dumfries has also joined the club’s group of full-backs.
However, Real Madrid missed out on Golden Ball winner Rodri, who chose to join direct rivals Barcelona. The Spanish giants are now expected to sign African star Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. They also recently secured Vinicius Junior’s long-term future after the Brazilian was strongly linked with Premier League champions Arsenal.
According to AS, Mourinho has introduced three strict rules that every Real Madrid player must follow as the Portuguese coach looks to enjoy another successful spell in Spain.
Mourinho introduces three strict rules for Real Madrid players
The first rule focuses on nutrition. Mourinho believes top performances on the pitch begin with the right food. Real Madrid’s nutritionists will no longer simply give players advice. Instead, they will decide the daily meals that every player must follow. Each meal will be designed to improve performance rather than meet individual food preferences.
The second rule is about being on time. Players who arrive late for training will now face an unusual punishment: one hour alone in the gym. Every player must arrive one hour before team training begins. Anyone who fails to do so will receive a physical punishment rather than a financial fine.
The final rule concerns injury recovery. All treatment and rehabilitation must now take place at Valdebebas, Real Madrid’s training complex. Players will no longer be allowed to use outside treatment without the club’s control. This means decisions about when injured players can return will be more closely managed and supervised by the club.
Above everything else, Mourinho wants to create a strong and positive atmosphere inside the squad. His aim is to encourage teamwork and unity instead of allowing players to work separately as individuals.
Mourinho broke several La Liga records during his first spell as Real Madrid manager, including records for the most points, most victories, and most away wins in a single Spanish top-flight season.
With Cristiano Ronaldo leading the attack, Mourinho’s Real Madrid became the first “Centurion” team in Europe’s major leagues during the 2011-12 season, finishing with 100 points. One season later, Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona also reached 100 points. Mourinho’s long-time coaching rival Pep Guardiola later achieved the same total with Manchester City in the 2017-18 season.
