José Mourinho has made it clear that he does not want to see Brahim Díaz leave Real Madrid this summer. The Portuguese coach is keen to keep his current squad as intact as possible, further strengthening the Moroccan international's position within the club.
During his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Real Sociedad, Mourinho was asked if his squad is now complete.
"For me, yes. But the transfer window is still open. Nothing is certain."
Mourinho Wants to Retain Current Squad
Mourinho acknowledged that unexpected situations could still arise in the final phase of the transfer window, such as a player deciding to leave if they receive insufficient playing time.
The coach took that possibility into account.
"What if a player tells me they want to leave because I kept them on the bench for two games?"
However, Mourinho subsequently made his preference clear by stating that he wants to keep his squad together.
"If someone leaves, I will not be happy about it. I want to keep this squad."
Brahim Díaz Remains Part of the Plans
Mourinho's comments are good news for Brahim Díaz. The attacking midfielder faces fierce competition for a starting spot within the Real Madrid squad.
This means the Moroccan international may not start every match from the opening whistle. However, Mourinho still clearly views him as part of his plans for the season.
The coach wants to retain his current squad, giving Díaz the opportunity to continue fighting for his place throughout the campaign.
Clarity Heading into the New Season
Although the transfer market remains open and things could still happen in the coming days, Mourinho currently seems to have little desire for major changes within his squad.
The Portuguese coach has confidence in the group he started the season with and wants to keep them together as much as possible.
For Brahim Díaz, this means he can fully focus on his role at Real Madrid for the time being.
Mourinho has thus sent a clear signal: Brahim Díaz is part of his plans, and a departure for the Moroccan international is not on the agenda at the moment.