Real Madrid’s squad shake-up under Mourinho could reshape football’s crypto partnership landscape

Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid is already generating the kind of drama that follows him like a rain cloud follows a cartoon character. Brahim Diaz, the Moroccan international midfielder, has publicly declared his excitement about working under the Portuguese manager, even as reports suggest Mourinho views him as little more than a deep bench option.

The roster chess match

Reports from mid-June 2026 paint a picture that’s less than flattering for Diaz. Mourinho reportedly considers the attacking midfielder a “14th or 15th” squad member. In English: he’s the guy who gets called off the bench when the game is already decided, or when someone pulls a hamstring.

Despite that classification, Diaz has made it clear he’s not interested in leaving. Juventus has come knocking, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, but the player values his spot at the Bernabeu enough to fight for it rather than accept a comfortable starting role elsewhere.

Mourinho, for his part, appears willing to sell Diaz if the transfer fee helps fund new acquisitions. Diaz’s versatility as an attacking midfielder gives him some leverage. He can operate across multiple positions in the final third, which offers squad depth that managers tend to appreciate more in January than in July.

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