Gareth Bale believes that José Mourinho has a plan on his return to Real Madrid to try to “manage the egos” within the current squad.
Mourinho’s move to the Spanish capital was confirmed earlier this month, 13 years after his first spell in charge, replacing the outgoing Alvaro Arbeloa.
The 63-year-old has signed a three-year deal with Los Blancos, aiming to turn around the club’s fortunes after a trophyless 2025-26 campaign.
It was a disjointed season both on and off the pitch, with Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni involved in an altercation after training, while Kylian Mbappé fell out with Arbeloa after claiming he was Madrid’s fourth striker.
Madrid also lost the LaLiga title to Clasico rivals Barcelona, while they also suffered a Champions League quarter-final exit and lost to second division side Albacete in the Copa del Rey round of 16.
But Bale, who spent nine years at Madrid and spent a season on loan with Mourinho at Tottenham, is confident things will change under his management.
“Having an experienced head coach, like Carlo Ancelotti was, hopefully Jose will settle the group down and put them all on the same path,” Bale told The Athletic.
“Carlo was just a great coach. He understands the psychology and the pressures that come with it.
“But he creates that relationship with you where you feel like he really cares about you.
“Sometimes players don’t play, but he knows how to keep them with him and keep them motivated.
“In a big club like Madrid, it is not necessary to really train. It is necessary to manage egos. That is why he [Mourinho] “He’s had so much success at the bigger clubs.”
Official Statement: José Mourinho
— Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) June 11, 2026
In his first spell in charge, between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho won 126 of his 174 games in all competitions (D27 L21), and took three major honors in that time.
His 72.4% winning percentage at Madrid is the highest of any team he has managed. Los Blancos have also won just four LaLiga titles since he left the club 13 years ago.
Bale made 258 appearances for Madrid in all competitions, scoring 106 goals and providing 57 assists, as well as lifting 16 major trophies during his time, including three LaLiga titles and five Champions Leagues.
The former Wales international recorded 19 goal involvements (16 goals, three assists) in 34 appearances during his season-long loan at Tottenham when Mourinho was in charge, and believes his experience managing Madrid will already prove pivotal.
“He has that experience too,” Bale added of Mourinho. “He just strives to get the best out of you. He’ll try to figure out each player and find whatever it takes to make it work.
“Sometimes it can be [prodding] someone in the media, sometimes it might just be putting your arm around them.
“José has been to Madrid, he understands the dynamics and knows how things work. He will make a plan to make it work.”
