Valdano impressed by ‘flexible’ Mourinho

Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano has been pleasantly surprised by the flexible approach of new coach Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho arrived at the Bernabeu this summer on the back of winning a Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League treble with Inter Milan last season.

And Valdano has been impressed by what he has seen of the Portuguese coach so far.

“I believe it was necessary to bring in a man with strong leadership skills and that is represented, better than anyone in today’s football, by Jose Mourinho,” he said.

“It is easy to have an understanding with him. He has a feeling for the club, is passionate about his work, obsessive about success and everything he suggests is reasonable.

“I thought he was a fanatic, but he is a person with a very flexible intelligence.”

Madrid have brought in five new players for the season and were reported to be in the market for another striker, but Valdano insisted there would be no more signings this transfer window.

“There won’t be any more signings – no striker will come in,” he said.

Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema are the only recognised out-and-out strikers now at the club, but Valdano claimed others can fill in if necessary.

“I have seen (Mesut) Ozil play (up front) for (former club) Werder Bremen and Cristiano Ronaldo can play there as well,” he said.

Madrid were linked during the summer with a move for Inter full-back Maicon, who Mourinho coached at Inter, but Valdano claimed the Serie A side wanted more than the Spanish giants were willing to play for the Brazilian.

“His price didn’t reflect what the club were willing to pay. Everything has a limit, even for Real Madrid,” he said.

Valdano revealed “two or three” players were likely to be leaving the club, with midfielder Mahamadou Diarra set to be one of them.

“We will be comfortable with two or three exits,” he said. “He (Diarra) is the only one we have spoken in a direct manner, but we have spoken to some of the other players that will have difficulties to win a place in the first team.