Real Madrid's season hit a new low on Sunday night as they fell to Barcelona in El Clásico, officially surrendering the La Liga title and closing the book on a forgettable campaign at the Santiago Bernabéu. With the echoes of defeat still ringing, all eyes now turn to club president Florentino Pérez and the sweeping changes expected ahead of next season.

The first domino to fall? The manager's seat. Álvaro Arbeloa is widely expected to depart, and what started as a whisper two weeks ago has now become the logical endgame: José Mourinho is Pérez's top target to return this summer. Reports suggest Pérez sees the Portuguese tactician as the "only viable option" and is set to present his plan to the Real Madrid board imminently.

Mourinho, for his part, has publicly denied direct contact with the club, but behind the scenes, conversations appear to be flowing through his agent, Jorge Mendes. According to Diario AS, the Special One has laid down two non-negotiable demands before giving the green light for a second stint at the Bernabéu.

First, he wants a decisive voice in which positions are strengthened this summer—if not necessarily every individual signing, then at least the strategic direction of the transfer window. Second, and perhaps more crucially, Mourinho insists on full authority to impose discipline on the squad, without his decisions being second-guessed. This aligns with earlier reports that he wants to answer only to Pérez, bypassing other club figures who might undermine his command.

Given how this season unraveled, it's clear Pérez will need to shake things up in the market. That could mean parting ways with players who once seemed untouchable. The big question is how aggressive Madrid will get—until last summer, Pérez had kept a relatively tight purse, splashing big only on one or two younger talents per year (Kylian Mbappé's blockbuster move being the notable exception).

For fans and fashion-forward supporters alike, this saga is more than just tactics and transfers—it's about the identity and energy that will define next season's kit, both on and off the pitch. Whether Mourinho's iron fist returns or not, one thing is certain: change is coming to the Bernabéu.