Thursday, 26th May, 2011 

Real Madrid have removed Jorge Valdano from his post of director general at the club, a move which significantly strengthens Jose Mourinho’s hand.

Valdano had offered to resign, but had been persuaded to stay until the end of the season. Now the Real Madrid stalwart has left and Mourinho will gain further control over transfer policy.

Los Blancos’ president Florentino Perez explained that the move was designed to give Mourinho what he felt he needed to take on bitter rivals Barcelona next season.

“Mourinho demanded an autonomy on the sporting side like that which works with English clubs. I think for the sake of this institution this reorganisation needs to be done”, said Perez.

“We signed the best coach in the world, so we want to be sure that even when he leaves one day and we sign another of the world’s best the structure is there.”

Mourinho and Valdano had most recently clashed over the signing of another striker in the January transfer window, a battle the Portuguese ultimately won with the loan arrival of Emmanuel Adebayor. The pair had not spoken for some time as their relationship deteriorated.


   Latest Features: