Legacy vs Barça: Mourinho’s Madrid saga still shines despite Negreira shadows
28 January 2026
Marca, the Spanish newspaper, shines a light on the veteran Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho ahead of Real Madrid's home clash with Benfica in the final round of the group stage of the Champions League.
It recalls Mourinho's controversial legacy at Real Madrid, noting that 12 years after leaving the Spanish capital, merely mentioning his name still triggers heated debates among Madridistas, reflecting the deep impact he left in the club's memory.
During his three-season stint, Mourinho won one league title, one Copa del Rey, and another Spanish Super Cup.
Facing Barcelona
The Madrid newspaper adds that Mourinho stood against Barcelona in the era of Guardiola, a time later revealed to have been powered by strong support from Negreira, in reference to the payments case that Barcelona faced regarding the former vice president of the Spanish referees committee, Jose Negreira, with investigations still ongoing.
They describe Mourinho as an exceptional coach technically, yet a controversial figure whose repeated clashes inside the club helped end his Madrid tenure despite notable successes and evident influence.
Humor break: In Mourinho's world, a tactical masterclass is often just a fancy way to say the bus is coming and the fans brought popcorn. Punchline 2: If football were a novel, Mourinho would be the plot twist that keeps the fans turning the pages and the referees busy rewriting the ending.
