Mourinho's Madrid Comeback Hits a Turbulent Hurdle as Arbeloa Steals the Spotlight

Mourinho leaves the Bernabéu before stepping inside!

A Turbulent Return to Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho's hoped-for return to Real Madrid's bench at the Santiago Bernabéu is dimming after a stormy Lisbon night. Rather than a celebrated homecoming, his conduct and choices threaten to turn the comeback into a brief visit that hardly meets the expectations of a potential successor.

According to AS, three core reasons explain the decline in Mourinho's chances of succeeding Álvaro Arbeloa: first, he missed a golden opportunity to get close to the club’s decision-maker, Florentino Pérez, who was absent from the Lisbon trip at the last moment.

Compounding the issue, the red card Mourinho received in the away leg will bar him from the technical area during the return match at the Bernabéu. That means no warm embrace for Pérez, no direct conversation, and perhaps a screen-filled view of the action from a distant corner of the stadium.

Additionally, Mourinho announced he would not attend press conferences in Madrid, effectively severing direct lines of communication with the club and its supporters.

AS also noted a big blow for Madrid fans in Mourinho's cautious response to the Vinícius Júnior racism incident: instead of condemning the act, he attributed provocation to Vinícius and argued the Brazilian should have left the scene with his teammates rather than confronting 60,000 spectators.

On the pitch, Álvaro Arbeloa demonstrated notable tactical maturity, clearly outshining his former mentor on the Da Luz turf. While Mourinho stirred controversy and fanned the flames of dispute with referees, Arbeloa managed the game with calm leadership despite swirling rumors about his own future at the club.

AS stresses that this on-field superiority, plus Arbeloa's ability to secure a win under pressure, has forced the club to reconsider the feasibility of a managerial change. Mourinho's return to a more combative image clashes with the club’s current strategy and public stance.

In sum, Arbeloa's composed display hints at a potential, steadier path for Real Madrid, while Mourinho's latest theatrics leave the Bernabéu corridor talking about a quieter era ahead for the club—one where diplomacy may trump drama, at least for now.

And yes, the saga might still have a few surprises left, but for now the headlines seem to favor the patient, tactical maestro over the loud, headline-friendly return.