Federico Valverde says Jose Mourinho has been tougher than expected at Real Madrid, but also very approachable. The captain’s first public comments of the new era came after Madrid beat Ferencvarosi TC 2-1 in Budapest and stretched their unbeaten run to four matches.

Valverde's first read on Mourinho

"I didn't expect Mourinho to be like this, in the few days I've spent with him. Very approachable. In the end, he's someone who's there with his personality," Valverde told goal.com.

He did not stop there. "Sometimes he's tough, but I think that's the way you can improve. I like how he treats us, how he treats me," he added.

That is the useful part of Valverde's view, because it is not just praise. It points to a manager who is already being felt in training, while the squad is still missing a lot of players and still trying to put his ideas into practice.

Valverde's own standing matters here too. He was described as the first captain of Real Madrid and wore the armband against Ferencvarosi TC, and his season rating is 6.8.

Bernardo Silva's quick fit

Valverde also singled out Bernardo Silva, who he called "a magical player, and very funny and entertaining. Spectacular." He added: "He's a fantastic player whom I've always admired, both as a rival and as a player. Having him with us today is a great joy."

The early sign is simple enough. Silva has four 2026 appearances and already made his debut against Ferencvarosi TC, which fits the tone of Valverde's praise: not a finished verdict, but a clear sense that he has settled quickly.

The wider picture around Madrid is still early. Four matches without defeat is a decent base, but it is still a small run and the squad is missing players. For now, Valverde's comments say more about the mood in the dressing room than any grand conclusion about where this team is heading.

The next test is whether Mourinho's approach keeps landing once the squad is fuller and the fixture list gets less forgiving. For now, Madrid leave Budapest with the result, the unbeaten run and a captain who sounds impressed by both the tough side and the approachable one.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →