Mourinho's Bernabéu Return Spells Trouble for Alexander-Arnold and Carvajal

Florentino Perez has made his move. With Álvaro Arbeloa having failed to deliver silverware, Real Madrid's president is actively hunting for his successor—and all roads point to a reunion with Jose Mourinho.

The Athletic has confirmed that the 63-year-old Portuguese manager sits atop Perez's wishlist, with the club president taking personal control of the recruitment process after last year's unsuccessful delegation to general manager Jose Angel Sanchez, who brought in Xabi Alonso. Perez is after an experienced operator with the authority to manage a dressing room brimming with ego and talent.

AC Milan's Max Allegri had been mooted as an option, but Mourinho appears to be the man Perez wants. The prospect of the old Special One returning to stir the pot at the Bernabéu has undeniable appeal, and La Liga could certainly use the injection of theatre he brings.

The received wisdom suggests Real's squad would balk at working under Mourinho again. Yet the reality proves more nuanced. Kylian Mbappé has reportedly given his blessing to the appointment, whilst Thibaut Courtois and Dean Huijsen harbour positive memories of their time under him elsewhere. Plenty more have been courted by Mourinho during his various managerial stints and wouldn't mind a second helping.

But there are those who should be genuinely concerned about his arrival.

Vinicius Jr remains a wounded nerve

Just two months ago, Mourinho found himself accused of "gaslighting" following his response to Vinicius Jr's allegations of racial abuse at the hands of Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni. The manager's instinct—to defend his player—was understandable, yet his execution was catastrophic. As Vincent Kompany noted, it amounted to a "huge mistake."

"There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium. A stadium where Vinicius plays, something happens, always," Mourinho had said.

He subsequently softened his stance, suggesting it would be finished between him and Prestianni if racism charges were proven. Conveniently, UEFA has since swept the matter aside: Prestianni received a six-game ban for homophobia rather than racism, with half suspended and one match already served. It's a fudge of spectacular proportions, and one Mourinho might comfortably live with—unless he genuinely wants to rebuild trust with Vinicius Jr, which seems unlikely.

Alexander-Arnold faces the axe

Few players divide opinion like Trent Alexander-Arnold. But we suspect we know precisely where Mourinho will plant his flag.

Conservative coaches have consistently overlooked the Liverpool export, unwilling to tolerate the defensive vulnerabilities that accompany his creative brilliance. After an uneven maiden season in the Spanish capital, Alexander-Arnold looks primed to become Mourinho's sacrificial lamb—the player cast adrift to prove the new boss means business.

The right-back shouldn't expect much solidarity from his teammates either. Club captain Dani Carvajal was spotted openly ridiculing Alexander-Arnold's recovery pace during Friday's draw with Real Betis. Not exactly a vote of confidence.

Carvajal's complicated history

Carvajal's own position is precarious. Out of contract this summer, the club has reportedly left renewal in his hands as a mark of respect for 13 years of service. Had he harboured genuine ambitions of staying, Arbeloa's departure would have been welcome news—the pair clashed frequently, with the former manager sidelining Carvajal more than he'd have preferred.

But Mourinho? That's a different proposition entirely. The manager once deemed the then-20-year-old Carvajal surplus to requirements and shipped him off to Bayer Leverkusen, justifying it as a developmental necessity. Carvajal later returned when the manager changed, and he's never quite forgotten. He branded Mourinho "opportunistic" at the time.

There's a glimmer of hope, though. Mourinho has since acknowledged the error of judgment and congratulated both Carvajal and Spain on their Euro 2024 success. Moreover, Carvajal's attributes—his positioning, his defensive acumen—align more naturally with Mourinho's full-back template than Alexander-Arnold's does. Redemption may yet beckon for the captain.

For Alexander-Arnold, however, the outlook appears considerably grimmer.