Older, calmer, but still playing the hits: Mourinho and Madrid primed for clásico

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Once Bobby Robson’s translator at the Camp Nou, José Mourinho is tasked with bringing down Barcelona on Sunday</p><p>José Mourinho has done the <em>por que?,</em> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/sep/21/real-madrid-atletico-madrid-jose-mourinho-diego-simeone-madrid-derby-la-liga">the printout</a> and the press conference no-show, and he’s been here only three months. The Real Madrid manager has played the classics without even playing a <em>clásico. </em>Not yet anyway, but it’s time: on Sunday night he returns to the stadium he first arrived at 30 transformative years ago as Bobby Robson’s talented young translator, and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jan/30/real-madrid-barcelona-copa-del-rey">last visited in 2013</a> as the most famous manager in football.</p><p>The coach who once declared “today, tomorrow and always, Barcelona in my heart,” and claimed he would only ever go to Real Madrid to destroy them, has been entrusted with attempting to bring about the destruction of Barcelona. It is not the first time: if his return is about nostalgia, which it is, that’s wrapped up in their rivals too.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/24/la-liga-clasico-barcelona-real-madrid-jose-mourinho">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.