Jose Mourinho introduces three strict rules every Real Madrid player must follow

Jose Mourinho has introduced three strict rules all Real Madrid players must follow, as the returning La Liga boss prepares for a make-or-break season.

Real Madrid are, if compared to the standards set throughout their illustrious club history, in a slight crisis. As a result, the La Liga giants have hired former manager Mourinho to steady the sinking Spanish ship, which has now seen two consecutive seasons without lifting major silverware.

Despite the addition of Kylian Mbappe, who won the European Golden Boot in 2024-25, and pushed Harry Kane for the award last season, the kings of the Champions League have failed to win their favourite tournament since 2023, and lost two domestic title races to long-time rivals Barcelona in that time.

Mourinho has made crucial additions to his side in a busy transfer window, signing Premier League talent Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate on free transfers, and Chelsea's Marc Cucurella, who won the World Cup with Spain in July, in a deal worth €60 million. Real Madrid also added Denzel Dumfries to their list of full-backs.

Elsewhere, they lost out on Golden Ball winner Rodri to their direct title rivals, Barcelona, but are expected to secure the services of African superstar Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. They also recently tied down Vinicius Junior's future after a transfer saga saw him linked to Premier League champions Arsenal.

According to AS, Mourinho has laid down three strict rules that all players at the club must follow, as the Portuguese manager looks to make history in Spain for a second time.

Mourinho's three strict rules enforced on Real Madrid squad

The first rule pertains to nutrition, with Mourinho being of the belief that high athletic performance begins in the kitchen. The role of nutritionists at Real Madrid is no longer advisory; instead, they will set the everyday menu that all players must follow, with everything tailored to enhance footballing performance, not appease preferences.

The second pertains to punctuality, with the punishment for being late to training now being a solitary hour in the gym, entirely alone. Failure to turn up to team training an hour prior to its starting time will not result in financial punishment, but physical.

Finally, injury recovery must strictly be handled at Valdebebas, with outside treatments off the table for Real Madrid players. As a result, returning to action for an injured player will no longer be an individual matter, and will become more collective and more strictly supervised than ever before.

The Portuguese manager is, above all else, committed to building a positive team atmosphere that rewards collaboration and unity, as opposed to encouraging individuals separately.

Mourinho set various La Liga records during his first stint as Real Madrid manager, including the most points accumulated in a Spanish top-flight season, most games won, and most away games won.

With Cristiano Ronaldo as his leading man, the club became the first 'Centurion' side in Europe's top leagues in 2011-12, before Tito Vilanova led Barcelona to the title, also with 100 points, the season after. Mourinho's long-time coaching rival Pep Guardiola also took Manchester City to a 100-point total in 2017-18.