15 August 2026

Jose Mourinho’s arrival at Real Madrid is expected to bring a clearer structure to a midfield unit that has struggled to strike the right balance in recent seasons.

The Portuguese coach has traditionally favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation, and his initial work with the squad has already indicated a similar approach.

Within that system, Jude Bellingham is expected to play as the attacking midfielder, positioned behind the centre-forward and in front of a two-man midfield pivot.

That leaves Mourinho with a major tactical call to make: which two players should make up the double pivot?

With Bernardo Silva, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga among the leading options, Mourinho has several possible combinations to assess, with each pairing offering Real Madrid a distinctly different midfield profile.

With that in mind, here are four options Mourinho could look at.

Bernardo Silva can be paired with Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.

The Bernardo Silva-Aurelien Tchouameni partnership could be the most balanced solution if Mourinho wants one midfielder to dictate possession and another to provide defensive security.

Tchouameni would play as the deeper midfielder, shielding the centre-backs and providing physical presence when Real Madrid lose the ball, while his ability to cover ground would give Bernardo Silva more freedom to control the game.

The former Manchester City player is not a conventional defensive midfielder, but his intelligence could help Real Madrid move the ball through central zones.

He could drop into deeper areas during the build-up, receive possession and link the defence with Bellingham and the attacking line.

This pairing could be especially effective against teams that defend deep.

Recent reports surrounding Tchouameni have also indicated that Mourinho still sees him as an important member of the squad despite the reported dressing-room tension involving Valverde towards the end of last season.

Mourinho has made it clear that professionalism must take priority over personal matters, and that could allow Tchouameni to concentrate on becoming the key defensive reference in Mourinho’s midfield.

The concern, however, would be physical intensity. Bernardo’s work rate is outstanding, but a midfield featuring him alongside Tchouameni could be exposed during quick transitions.

Valverde would add energy, while Bernardo would provide balance.

The Bernardo-Valverde pairing would offer Mourinho a more aggressive and mobile midfield setup.

Valverde has the speed, endurance and defensive discipline to cover large spaces, which would allow Bernardo to spend more time shaping possession.

The Uruguayan could press high, support attacking moves and recover his position quickly when Real Madrid lose the ball.

This could be Mourinho’s preferred choice in matches where Real Madrid are expected to dominate possession.

The Portuguese midfielder would bring calmness and creativity from deeper areas, while Valverde would contribute vertical running.

In simple terms, their contrasting characteristics could complement one another.

Valverde’s importance is growing further after emerging as Real Madrid’s first-choice captain.

Tactically, though, this pairing carries a risk, because neither player is a natural holding midfielder.

As a result, against elite opponents, the space behind Bellingham could be left open, especially if Valverde drives forward.

The Tchouameni-Valverde partnership would look ideal for Real Madrid.

On paper, this could be Mourinho’s safest double-pivot option, because Tchouameni offers positional discipline and defensive cover, while Valverde supplies energy, pressing and ball-carrying quality.

This combination would give Real Madrid the physical edge required to compete with Europe’s strongest midfields.

Tchouameni could stay close to the back line, allowing Valverde to push higher and support Bellingham. Without the ball, both players have the athleticism to cover significant ground.

This pairing would also give Mourinho greater freedom to field an attacking front four.

With Bellingham operating as the No. 10, Real Madrid would have a strong platform behind him, while the attacking players could focus on creating chances.

The main question in this case would be their chemistry.

After their altercation last season, Mourinho has reportedly spoken to both players and demanded professionalism.

If they are able to move beyond those issues, this partnership could become the foundation of the team.

Camavinga deserves another opportunity under Mourinho.

The Tchouameni-Camavinga partnership would give Mourinho tremendous physical power and defensive coverage.

Camavinga’s energy could allow him to press higher up the pitch and carry the ball forward, while Tchouameni remains in the deeper role.

Recent reports have suggested that Real Madrid still believe Camavinga has an exceptionally high ceiling despite his recent difficulties.

The club believe Mourinho could help him rediscover his best form and potentially develop into a midfielder comparable to players valued at more than €100 million.

Because of that, this combination could be particularly useful in matches where Real Madrid need to withstand pressure.

However, the biggest concern would be progression and creativity.

With Bellingham playing as the attacking midfielder, Real Madrid would need their wide players or full-backs to provide much of the creative connection between midfield and attack.