José Mourinho wasted no time making his priorities clear as he prepares for his first competitive match back in charge of Real Madrid, dismissing any suggestion that the club would move for Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Speaking to the Spanish program El Chiringuito ahead of the new La Liga season, the Portuguese coach was asked directly whether he would want to bring Yamal to the Santiago Bernabéu.
His answer was blunt but respectful: Jose Mourinho ruled out acquiring the Barcelona attacker, claiming that Real Madrid already have a “top-level” team.
“No. He is a great player without a doubt, a young man with an incredible margin of progression. It is not normal at his age to be European and world champion, but we have a top squad; I would not make a hole for anyone,” Mourinho said, according to comments carried widely by Spanish media.
The remarks, later amplified by transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, were framed by observers as both a vote of confidence for his own dressing room and a nod of respect toward Real Madrid’s fiercest rivals.
Mourinho used the interview to praise Barcelona’s sporting project under head coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco, with the Portuguese noting an excellent job had been done between the pair and their players.
For a manager known throughout his career for making bold, high-profile signings, Mourinho’s stance signals something different this time: contentment.
Yamal, now firmly established as one of the world’s most talked-about young players, has continued to draw attention wherever he goes, even earning a standing ovation from Real Madrid’s own supporters at the Bernabéu during a Spain fixture in previous seasons.
That reception underscores just how difficult it would be for any rival to prise him away from Camp Nou and how symbolically loaded Mourinho’s comments were, delivered as they were on the eve of a new campaign.
His comments on Diomande followed a similar thread. Asked about the club’s move for the young winger, Mourinho admitted he hadn’t personally requested the deal but made clear he was glad it happened: “No, I did not ask, but I wanted him. He’s a great player who can play on both sides.”
The remark points to a coach who values tactical flexibility; a winger capable of operating on either flank offers Mourinho more options as he rebuilds his attacking setup for the new season.
Real Madrid now turn their attention to matters on the pitch. The club begins their league campaign away at Espanyol on Saturday, August 22, at the RCDE Stadium, Mourinho’s first competitive test since returning to the dugout, and an early opportunity to show whether his faith in the current squad is well placed.
For now, at least, Yamal remains where he is, a Barcelona player, and, in Mourinho’s own words, one he has no intention of disturbing his squad to chase.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Mourinho has firmly ruled out signing Lamine Yamal for Real Madrid, not out of doubt in the youngster’s ability, which he openly praised, but out of full confidence in the squad he already has.
This is a coach prioritizing stability and trust in his current players over chasing marquee names, even one as coveted as Yamal, as he begins a new chapter at the Bernabéu ahead of Saturday’s season opener against Espanyol.
