Three-week international break worries Mourinho

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has expressed unease about the upcoming international break in September, which will stretch to three weeks instead of the usual length. Speaking ahead of Sunday's La Liga home fixture against Malaga, the Portuguese coach said his greater worry lies not with players who will actually feature for their national teams, but with those who join up and end up seeing little or no game time.

The change means the traditional separate September and October breaks will now merge into a single three-week window in late September and early October, during which nations will play four matches instead of two. The November, March and June breaks remain unchanged. Among the reasons cited for the shift are the 2026 World Cup final being scheduled for 19 July, the latest date for a summer tournament final since 1966, alongside considerations around player welfare and travel demands.

Mourinho noted that injuries frequently occur during and immediately after international duty, adding that while the situation concerns him, it is simply how things now stand. He also referenced ongoing efforts at Real Madrid to manage the workload of players who had demanding summers following the World Cup, including Jude Bellingham, Marc Cucurella and Kylian Mbappe.

Praise for Bellingham

In his pre-match media conference, Mourinho spoke highly of Bellingham, describing him as a uniquely important player whose value extends well beyond attacking output, citing his mental strength, tactical awareness and defensive pressing.

Ballon d'Or comments

Mourinho also weighed in on the Ballon d'Or debate, arguing that winning the Champions League or World Cup should not automatically make a player the frontrunner for the award. He suggested the prize should go to players whose absence, once they retire, is felt for years to come, naming figures such as Maradona, Ronaldinho and Messi as examples.