Real Madrid fans got a clearer picture of José Mourinho’s thinking this week, and Arda Güler sits right at the centre of it. Speaking to Josep Pedrerol on El Chiringuito TV ahead of his return to the Santiago Bernabéu, Mourinho set out exactly where he sees the Turkish midfielder heading over the coming seasons. This update, filed on 19 September 2026, brings together everything he said about Güler, Yan Diomande and Bernardo Silva, and confirms where Madrid go next on the fixture list.
H2: September 2026 Update: José Mourinho’s Tactical Vision
Mourinho used the interview to explain how he wants his squad to fit together rather than to hand out predictions. He talked through Güler’s development, the thinking behind Diomande’s arrival, and his early impressions of Bernardo Silva. Taken together, the answers give us the clearest sense yet of how Mourinho plans to shape his midfield at Real Madrid this season.
None of it was framed as a finished plan. Mourinho was describing a direction of travel — where he expects players to grow into, not a system he’s already installed. That distinction matters for how Madrid supporters should read what follows.
H2: Mourinho Compares Arda Güler to Luka Modrić
Mourinho didn’t hold back on his admiration for Güler. “I love Arda Güler. He’s a top player,” he told Pedrerol. It’s the kind of endorsement that will please a fanbase that has watched Güler grow into a first-team regular after his early struggles for game time.
The more striking line came next, when Mourinho reached for a direct comparison. “I believe with him it’s going to be like Luka Modrić,” he said. It’s a bold reference point. Modrić spent over a decade at the Bernabéu before leaving for AC Milan, and across that time his role changed completely — from a quick, attack-minded midfielder into the deep-lying playmaker who controlled Madrid’s tempo from deeper positions. Mourinho appears to see the same evolution ahead for Güler, not a repeat of Modrić’s departure.
H2: Diomande Versatility and Bernardo Silva Arrival
Mourinho also used the interview to correct a common assumption about summer recruitment. Asked directly about Yan Diomande, he was clear that the move wasn’t one he’d pushed for by name. “Did I ask for Yan Diomande’s signing? No, I did not ask, but I wanted him,” he explained. The distinction is subtle but real — this was about profile, not a personal request.
What drew Mourinho to Diomande is his flexibility. “He’s a great player who can play on both sides,” he said, pointing to a player who can operate on either flank and give the manager options he didn’t previously have.
Bernardo Silva, who joined Real Madrid on a free transfer from Manchester City, earned similarly warm words. “Bernardo Silva can contribute in everything,” Mourinho said, a nod to the Portuguese international’s range across midfield and the final third. Real Madrid picking him up without a transfer fee only adds to the value of that assessment.
H2: Arda Güler’s Long-Term Position Under José Mourinho
Mourinho’s plan for Güler is a gradual move away from the attacking, ball-carrying role Madrid fans know him for and into a deeper midfield job. “In the end he will end up as a number 8 and then as a 6,” Mourinho said, sketching out a two-stage transition rather than an immediate switch.
That path mirrors the one Modrić followed at the club — starting further forward, then dropping into central midfield as his reading of the game and control of possession took over from raw pace. For Güler, it points to a future built on dictating play rather than simply finishing it. Real Madrid have shown patience with his development before, and this looks like the next stage of that project rather than a change of course.
Mourinho didn’t put a timeline on the switch, and nothing in his comments suggests it happens this season. It’s a long-term marker, not a starting-XI instruction for this weekend.
H2: What Happens Next
None of this changes the immediate picture. Real Madrid’s next competitive match is away against Espanyol on Saturday, and that fixture will tell us far more about Mourinho’s current thinking than any interview. Güler’s shift towards midfield is a project for months and years, not days.
Mourinho has been open about his squad in other settings too, including a recent interview detailing Madrid secrets that gave a similar look behind the scenes at the club. For the full context of this week’s comments on Güler, Diomande and Bernardo Silva, the original discussion is available in Mourinho’s interview on El Chiringuito TV. Espanyol away is the next test — and the first proper chance to see how much of this thinking is already shaping team selection.
