Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says he is “very happy” with his current squad despite the club missing out on Spanish midfielder Rodri, who later joined rivals Barcelona.
Real Madrid made significant changes to their squad during the summer transfer window, bringing in six players, including record signing Yan Diomande, Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella.
However, the club’s attempt to sign Rodri failed, leaving Silva as the main midfield reinforcement. Despite the setback, Mourinho insists he does not believe the squad needs further additions.
“For me the squad is closed, but the market is still open,” Mourinho told reporters on Tuesday, noting that unexpected departures could still change the situation. He added that he had not requested another signing and was satisfied with the players currently available to him.
Madrid’s midfield has undergone major changes in recent seasons following the departures of Toni Kroos in 2024 and Luka Modric in 2025. The team has since faced questions over its ability to control games from midfield.
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Mourinho’s side opened their La Liga campaign with a narrow 2-1 victory away to Espanyol on Saturday, with Silva and Federico Valverde starting together in midfield.
The coach also confirmed that French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni would miss Wednesday’s match against Real Sociedad as he continues to recover from a fitness issue.
Mourinho said the decision was made to ensure Tchouameni returns fully fit rather than rushing him back at the start of the season. “We decided with him, the staff and the medical department, to get him to return at 100 percent,” he said.
The Portuguese coach also expressed confidence in Valverde’s ability to operate effectively in central midfield, despite the Uruguayan having played in several positions under previous managers.
“For me he is a player for the centre of the pitch,” Mourinho said, adding that Valverde could operate in different ways depending on the opponent and the team’s tactical objectives.
Mourinho also suggested that traditional positional labels have become less important in modern football, with midfielders increasingly expected to perform multiple roles during matches.
“I don’t want to identify Tchouameni as the No. 6, Camavinga No. 6, Fede No. 8, Bernardo No. 10 … things dilute during games,” he said.
Al Jazeera
