Former Chelsea and France winger Florent Malouda believes that Kylian Mbappe and Jose Mourinho represent an ideal pairing at Real Madrid. According to him, the newly appointed Los Blancos head coach will design his tactical setup around the French forward, as both men share a similar hunger for success and a determination to fix the issues that affected the club last season.

Mourinho returns to the Bernabeu

The Portuguese tactician has officially made his comeback to the Spanish capital, signing a lucrative three-year deal that runs until June 2029 after Real Madrid triggered a €15 million release clause from Benfica. Mourinho is expected to take charge of the first-team once pre-season training begins on July 13. His main focus will be to get the best out of Mbappe, who, despite scoring 42 goals in all competitions last season, finished without a single trophy in his second year at the club.

Malouda expects a tactical evolution

The former France international anticipates that Mourinho will make Mbappe central to his new project, aiming to re-establish Real Madrid’s domestic dominance and European edge. Malouda, speaking to BOYLE Sports, which provides the latest World Cup odds, said: “I think they have the same kind of mindset where they want to prove that they are the best, and I think they have common interests.”

He continued, “I think Mourinho is the right profile to maybe bring some order into the Real Madrid squad. He’s a different manager now. He knows that he needs to connect and engage with Kylian Mbappe. I believe he will try to build a system around him that allows him to lead the team. Most importantly, they both love football.”

Malouda added, “They share the same passion and commitment to the game. What makes them happiest are results, and for them, results mean winning trophies. That’s the common goal they both have.”

Real Madrid eye big summer reinforcements

Mourinho’s challenge will also involve fixing the creative gaps that appeared after Luka Modric’s emotional departure in the summer of 2025. To strengthen the squad, Real Madrid have already moved decisively in the transfer market, sealing significant signings including Ibrahima Konate, Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella, and Denzel Dumfries.

Malouda further commented, “Looking at the players they’re bringing in, it’s clear they’ve reflected on what went wrong this season. Mourinho has the experience to address those problems. When Luka Modric left, there was a need to refresh the midfield, and Mourinho is the right person to find the right balance so someone like Mbappe can score goals, inspire the team, and win trophies. They could be the perfect combination.”

Pre-season rebuild to start immediately

The upcoming summer will be a crucial test for Mourinho, who must integrate several new signings while managing a squad packed with world-class talent. Real Madrid’s management is pushing to finalise major transfer business before the new La Liga season begins on the weekend of August 15.