Mourinho on how the Bernabéu call actually came
José Mourinho says the noise came before the phone call. He was at Benfica, settled, and the Madrid talk started on its own.
"Normally, there's initial contact, and then the buzz starts when something's actually happening. Here, it was exactly the opposite: the buzz started when there was no contact at all. I was at Benfica, happy" (3).
He also addressed the Vinícius Júnior and Gianluca Prestianni flashpoint from his time at Benfica, saying he handled it his way (3).
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Villarreal arrive Saturday, and they are missing Buchanan
Villarreal come to the Bernabéu on Saturday, October 10, kickoff 21:00 CEST. They make the trip without Tajon Buchanan (3).
You sit 4th on 15 points from 7 games, and your last league outing was a 2–1 defeat at Atlético Madrid on Sunday, September 20 (fact sheet).
Endrick's future hinges on Mourinho's minutes
Endrick is back from Brazil duty with his future open. Milan and Roma have both asked about him for 2027, and Lyon are also in the picture (2) (5).
The striker has played just four minutes in La Liga, against Elche (5). A January loan exit is looking more likely with every game he spends on the bench, and how Mourinho uses him this season is the deciding factor (2) (6). He is 19.
Madrid ask about McTominay
Real Madrid have made an enquiry for Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, who has also been linked with a return to Manchester United (1). No offer reported, just a look. This one is unconfirmed.
Bayern move to lock down Olise
Bayern Munich have opened contract talks with Michael Olise to keep him away from Madrid (6). You are watching him, and Bayern know it. A new deal is their answer.
PSG pushing hard for JJ Gabriel, 15
PSG have accelerated talks for Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel, with Luis Campos, Luis Enrique and Nasser Al-Khelaïfi all involved (7). He is 15.
Madrid are among the clubs tracking him, along with Bayern, Barcelona and Manchester City (7).
What Mourinho said after the derby
Atlético Madrid beat you 2–1 on Sunday, September 20, and Mourinho spent the press conference on the refereeing.
"Yes… we could have saved ourselves the press conference because the story of the match is here," he said (4). Cuti Romero, Kang-in Lee, Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde and Diomande all came up in that post-match fallout (4).
Fan reactions
The mood on the subreddit is about the attack. One thread pleads with Mourinho to start Espi up front and whip in crosses from both wings so Bellingham can work his linkup play while the team finds rhythm (thread).
There is also love for this season's kits now that the international break is over (thread), and a quieter worry running under it all about the Mbappé noise for 2027 (thread).
