Article by Sebastian Vasile – Published Friday, May 15, 2026, 8:02 p.m. / Updated Friday, May 15, 2026, 8:02 p.m.
Jose Mourinho (63) is set to take over Real Madrid from next season, but a possible second collaboration between the two sides is not to everyone's liking in Spanish football. Gaizka Mendieta (52 years old) believes that the Benfica coach's return to the “galacticos”, 13 years away, “would be a surprise”.
The former Spain international points out the risk associated with second chances and claims that “there are not many cases where they have worked”.
Gaizka Mendieta, categorical reaction: “Mourinho's return to Real Madrid would be a surprise”
Even the qualities of José Mourinho do not convince the legend of Valencia: “He is no longer the Mourinho of a few years ago, the one from his first arrival. I think things have changed a lot for Mou himself.”
“A lot of people close to the club say that he is the priority, the first option of the president, but, if it were up to me, i wouldn't consider this option as one of the possible ones“, he emphasized as quoted by Marca.
Gaizka Mendieta
Raul, proposed by Gaizka Mendieta at Real Madrid
Mendieta ruled out the Mourinho option and suggested another name for the coaching job: “If Florentino Perez called Raul today, he would go. But I don't think that will happen. And Raul is not glued to the phone waiting for that call, because he knows that his moment has probably passed”.
The former midfielder said that “Raul thought his moment had come before the signing of Xabi Alonso in the summer of 2025. I would have liked to see him there. I think he was ready, especially when they made this transition to a coach who is at the beginning of the journey, as happened with Arbeloa.”
Mendieta considered that “Real Madrid is a difficult team to coach, even for technicians with a great reputation”.
In 2001, Gaizka Mendieta became the most expensive Spanish footballer in history, Lazio paying 48 million euros to transfer him from Valencia. Today, the former midfielder is a UEFA and Spanish league ambassador, occasional DJ.
