Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says he is "very happy" with his current squad even though the club missed out on midfielder Rodri, who later signed for arch-rivals Barcelona.
Real Madrid underwent a major squad overhaul this summer with six new signings, including record signing Yan Diomande (from RB Leipzig), Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella. However, the move for Rodri fell through, leaving Los Blancos without further midfield reinforcement beyond Silva, the former Manchester City player.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mourinho said: "For me, the squad is closed, but the market is still open — you never know if a player might come and say 'I have been on the bench for two games and I want to leave.' In theory, there will be no more signings… but something can always happen… In my head, the squad is closed and I am not asking for anyone. I am very happy with the players I have."
Following the departures of key midfielders Toni Kroos (2024) and Luka Modric (2025), Real Madrid have struggled to control matches. In the La Liga opener on Saturday, Mourinho's side secured a late 2-1 win over Espanyol with the central midfield pairing of Silva and Federico Valverde.
The Portuguese coach confirmed that defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni will not be ready to face Real Sociedad on Wednesday. "He has a problem, and there hasn't been enough rest time (to recover). When he sees matches coming up, he wants to try… but we have decided that you can't start the season in pain," he explained. "You can end the season in pain, in the final months, but you can't start in August without being at 100 percent. So together with him, the coaching staff and the medical department, we decided to bring him back when he is at 100 percent."
Mourinho also expressed faith in Valverde — the Uruguay international — as a central midfielder, even though previous coaches used him in various roles such as right-back or right winger. "For me, he is a player for the center of the pitch," Mourinho added. "Depending on the opponent and our objectives, he can play fixed or with more freedom to move."
The 63-year-old boss stressed that in modern football, player positions are less important. "I don't want to call Tchouameni a No. 6, Camavinga a No. 6, Fede a No. 8, Bernardo a No. 10… everything fades during the match."
