Sofia Quijada
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A tense atmosphere still grips the Real Madrid dressing room, according to Spanish radio station Cadena SER, which reports that the coolness and disputes from last season have not disappeared despite José Mourinho taking over as coach this summer.
Real Madrid return to La Liga action on Saturday, hosting Villarreal after a three-week international break. The club enters the fixture off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid in their last league outing.
October brings a demanding run for the Royal club. They travel to face Roma, host Sevilla and RB Leipzig at home, then head to Catalonia for the Clásico against Barcelona on the 25th.
Players returned from international duty, but the mood inside the dressing room remains unsettled. Journalist Antón Meana told the programme El Larguero that the situation was far from reassuring.
A cold atmosphere and a clash between players
Meana, as reported by French network RMC, said the core problem has not shifted since Mourinho’s appointment.
“The only problem is that I still see the dressing room as cold as it was five months ago.”
Mourinho has yet to alter the dynamic of a group whose relationship with previous coaches Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa was already strained, Meana pointed out. He added that, based on available information, tension escalated into a direct clash between two players, though their identities remain undisclosed.
Mourinho’s forceful personality has not thawed the locker room. That lingering coolness now collides with the ongoing noise around Kylian Mbappé, producing a charged environment ahead of a demanding month for the club.
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Mbappé’s situation adds to the pressure
Kylian Mbappé returned to group training with Real Madrid on Wednesday, his first session since picking up an injury while on duty with France against Turkey.
His physical condition has improved considerably, according to Cadena SER, and he is available to face Villarreal, giving Mourinho the choice of starting him from the opening whistle.
Mbappé generated controversy during the break, first by appearing at a nightlife venue, then by posting a clip of himself riding a bicycle while still recovering from injury.
Sources inside Real Madrid insist, per the Spanish radio station, that there is no discontent toward the forward. Club management reportedly believes he acted within the terms agreed during his recovery period.
Cadena SER also reported that Mourinho spoke with Mbappé this week, aiming to steer him toward more caution off the pitch.
Real Madrid does not expect Mbappé to face jeers from the Santiago Bernabéu crowd against Villarreal. The club has reaffirmed its backing for both player and coach as they navigate the controversy.
Stay with TipsGG for continued coverage of Real Madrid’s locker room situation and the latest from La Liga.