According to a report by Madrid Universal on Wednesday October 21, 2026, the outcome of Real Madrid's El Clasico against Barcelona on Sunday could determine Jose Mourinho's future with Cesc Fabregas and Mikel Arteta supposedly surfacing as possible replacements.

The Portuguese manager still hasn't won over the club's upper echelons, despite leading Real Madrid to nine victories in eleven matches since his return to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 100th day of Mourinho's second stint as manager of the Spanish giants has passed. Reports indicate that worries about the team's overall performance persist, despite the encouraging early results.

Jorge Picon, a journalist for Defensa Central, has allegedly shown that Florentino Perez, president of Real Madrid, is keeping tabs on other potential managers. If Mourinho loses to Barcelona, the pressure on him to win will increase and his job security will be called into question.

Several club officials are reportedly hoping for more compelling performances from the squad, and their concerns go beyond the results. The leadership in Madrid may find it intolerable if the team falls nine points behind Barcelona.

After agreeing to a three-year deal, Mourinho made his triumphant return to the Bernabeu in June. It would be a bold move to fire him so soon, especially since he apparently still has the backing of his players.

At the same time, Madrid is considering Arteta and Fabregas as long-term possibilities. After proving his worth to Arsenal, Arteta was able to extend his contract until 2030.

It may be difficult to appoint the Spaniard in light of that agreement. Real Madrid's upper echelons supposedly hold Fabregas in high esteem; he has continued his managerial development at Como, where his current contract extends until 2028.

Didier Deschamps, the former manager of France, has also been considered for the position. No official negotiations with any of these candidates have been initiated by Madrid as of yet.

There would be a lot of danger in replacing Mourinho so soon. While the team adjusts to his coaching style, they face the risk of having their momentum derailed by yet another managerial shakeup.

But Real Madrid still has very high expectations, so Mourinho has to produce results and performances that win them over. Consequently, his future may hang in the balance of Sunday's match against Barcelona.

The club is not expected to make a decision right away, and Mourinho is still in charge for the time being. Nonetheless, the hierarchy may evaluate him differently depending on how he does in El Clasico.