Real Madrid board overrules Mourinho to keep Pintus as physical trainer

Real Madrid’s board has overruled José Mourinho on a key backroom appointment, insisting that Antonio Pintus remain as the club’s physical trainer despite the new head coach reportedly wanting to install his own man in the role, according to reports in the Spanish press relayed by Managing Madrid.

Pintus returned to the club after Madrid dismissed Xabi Alonso last winter, and the board moved decisively to keep him in place when Mourinho was appointed. The Portuguese coach appears to have had little influence over the decision — the club hierarchy simply determined that Pintus would stay.

The outcome was different in the goalkeeping department. Mourinho did get his way there, appointing his own goalkeeper coach for the role. The man he replaces, Luis Llopis, will not be leaving the club entirely — he is set to remain at Madrid in a different capacity, per the same reports. The identity of Mourinho’s chosen goalkeeper coach has not yet been confirmed.

The Pintus situation points to a broader dynamic in how this Madrid project is being assembled. Mourinho has been given room to reshape certain parts of his backroom staff, but the board has drawn a clear line at the physical preparation role — one that Pintus has occupied with considerable institutional weight since his return.

It is worth noting that these are reports from the Spanish press rather than any official club communication, and the finer details of how the arrangement was negotiated remain unconfirmed. What is clear is that Pintus and Mourinho will be working alongside each other next season, whether or not that was the coach’s first preference.

How Mourinho’s training methods integrate with Pintus’ established conditioning approach will be one of the more quietly significant subplots of the early weeks, particularly given the broader rebuild Mourinho is steering at the club.