Mourinho: Real Madrid's history cannot be compared to any other club

Jose Mourinho says Real Madrid's history "cannot be compared to anyone else's" as he prepares to return to the Bernabeu.

Mourinho is returning to Madrid for his second spell, 13 years after his first came to an end.

He has signed a three-year contract with Los Blancos after succeeding Alvaro Arbeloa.

Mourinho previously took charge between 2010 and 2013, winning 126 of his 174 games at the helm (D27 L21), and also won one LaLiga title, one Copa del Rey and one Supercopa de Espana in that time.

Madrid have failed to win a domestic trophy in either of the last two seasons, but Mourinho says the history of the club is part of what drew him back.

"The history of Real Madrid cannot be compared to anyone else's," he told Vanity Fair.

"I think the white shirts have something magical about them. But, in reality, they could be black, green, or blue, and nothing would change. Because what made Real Madrid what it is was its history. The history of Real Madrid is different.

"It's not just the history of the countless great players who have passed through the club. It's the history of the club itself. It's the history of the titles.

"Of course, there are difficult periods. There are phases when you don't win, as happens with any club accustomed to winning constantly. There are always moments when it's necessary to build or rebuild. But it's in Real Madrid's DNA to be the biggest club in the world in many areas: socially, economically, and in many other aspects.

"However, in the end, what remains are the titles. And when we talk about Real Madrid, we talk about the history and heritage of football."

There has been some unrest at Madrid, with Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni involved in an altercation after training, while Kylian Mbappe fell out with Arbeloa, stating he was Los Blancos' fourth-choice striker.

Vinicius Junior also reportedly did not get along with Xabi Alonso, who took charge for the first half of the 2025-26 season before being replaced by Arbeloa.

Mbappe has faced criticism, despite scoring 86 goals in 103 appearances since joining Madrid in 2024, finishing as their top scorer in both of their last two campaigns.

And asked if Mbappe has destabilised Madrid, Mourinho added: "I need to see it with my own eyes.

"I need to understand things that I don't know at the moment. What I know now is only what I read in the media and see on television.

"I need to get to know the players. It's not the time to talk too much. It's time to be calm, analyse, communicate, ask questions, answer questions, and maintain a very open and honest dialogue.

"Because, in the end, what I want is to help the players be better, help the team be better, and help the club be better. I'm there to help everyone – not to criticise, nor to talk too much, but to listen.

"The only thing I can say about Kylian Mbappe is that he is a phenomenal player and I will try to help him be even better."