Real Madrid officially present Mourinho in bizarre closed-door ceremony

Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid had already been under way for several weeks, but the club produced it official ⁠with a bizarrely understated ceremony at their training centre.

The second coming of the self-appointed “Special One”, as Mourinho dubbed himself when appointed Chelsea manager in 2004, is loaded with nostalgia, risk and unfinished business.

The Portuguese manager. This person began work with the squad when preseason started on July 10, signed a ⁠contract until June 2029 in the boardroom of Ciudad Real Madrid alongside club President Florentino Perez and honorary President Jose Martinez Pirri.

For a club accustomed to spectacle, the silence was almost the statement.

Galacticos – as Los Blancos have dubbed their star players over the years like Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane – are often paraded like celebrities, as are new managers.

Real, even so, are heading into the new La Liga season after two consecutive years without a trophy while Perez, recently re-elected but far from ‌the untouchable figure of old, is facing growing scrutiny from an impatient fanbase.

Mourinho framed his return as something more significant than a job.

“This is coming home. Emotionally, it’s even better than the first time because back then it was a feeling of reaching the highly top of the world, whereas now it’s more emotional and heartfelt,” Mourinho told the club’s official television channel in the unusual presentation away from the fanfare and spotlight.

“I’m one of you. I always have been, and you can imagine what it means to me to work for Real ⁠Madrid. This is a maxim that everyone must follow: working for Real Madrid, ⁠which means working for you.”