Mourinho's Netflix Series Reignites Real Madrid Rift

Jose Mourinho's three-part Netflix series, released on August 11, 2026, delves into his tumultuous first spell at Real Madrid. The documentary revisits his strained relationship with club captain Iker Casillas, offering candid accounts from both figures.

Mourinho recounts that his initial conversations with Casillas, regarding player vacation requests and altered training schedules, convinced him the squad was "spoiled." He also criticizes Casillas' phone call to Barcelona players during a heated rivalry period.

Casillas, featured in the series, describes their relationship as "very cold." He defends the call to Xavi and Puyol as an attempt to protect the Spanish national team's atmosphere from club hostilities.

The series covers Mourinho's arrival in 2010 aiming to counter Barcelona's dominance and highlights key moments like winning the Copa del Rey in 2011 and La Liga in 2012. However, underlying tensions over control and the intense rivalry with Barcelona grew.

By the 2012-13 season, the relationship had significantly deteriorated. Mourinho controversially dropped Casillas, leading to a public divide between "Mourinhoistas" and "Casillistas." Casillas later suffered a broken hand, with Diego López taking his place.

Former teammates like Sami Khedira describe the locker room as a "nightmare" during this period. Mourinho departed Real Madrid at the season's end, with Casillas remaining but his status altered.

In subsequent years, Casillas expressed regret for not directly confronting Mourinho, acknowledging that while the bitterness has faded and their current relationship is civil, the 2012-13 season was difficult.

The documentary, filmed over two years, includes new interviews with numerous football figures and provides exclusive access to Mourinho, exploring his career's blend of success and conflict, with the Casillas chapter gaining prominence due to both men's participation.