Former Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano says he finds it hard to believe speculation in the local media that Jose Mourinho will replace Rafa Benitez as coach in the coming days.
COPE programme "El Partido de las 12" cites well-placed sources in its claim that various Madrid socios have been called by phone by an unknown research company to find their views on Benitez and possible alternatives. These reportedly included both Mourinho, who had three turbulent years as Blancos manager from 2010 to 2013, and outgoing Bayern Munich and former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
Speaking on El Larguero, Valdano, who was sacked by Perez in the summer of 2011 after losing an internal Bernabeu power struggle with Mourinho, said that he found it difficult to conclude that the Portuguese was now set to return to the Bernabeu.
"It's hard for me to believe, hard for me to understand [Mourinho returning to Bernabeu]," Valdano said. "I know that Madrid is going through a difficult period, not dramatic, just difficult. But the idea that there must be action every time there is a crisis is not the most advisable. This idea of constant movement is the worst solution possible."
One-time Madrid youth player and assistant coach Benitez returned at the club just last summer, but has been heavily criticised by local pundits through recent weeks, whistled regularly by Madrid fans, and also reportedly lost the faith of dressing room. Valdano says it is really too early to judge Rafa's work and the relatively new coach is the "least responsible" for the rough spell the team and club is going through.
"Benitez came in with his methods, his way of doing things," he said. "That cannot be done in four months, that needs time. I do not know if Rafa Benitez will stay or will go, but if he leaves, he will be the least responsible for everything that has happened.
"He is a coach with experience, methods we all know for a long time, with a big Madridista feeling, with his own very special way of seeing the game. He needs an adaptation period, so that a team like Madrid can see what the coach wants. I really doubt Benitez will not be coach for the next game."
Spanish TV has shown images of Ronaldo reproaching Bernabeu fans for their lack of support early in Sunday's rollercoaster 10-2 home win over Rayo Vallecano.
Valdano said this was Ronaldo showing leadership of the team, and the fans anger dates from late November's 4-0 home Clasico defeat to Barcelona.
"I said during the game that there was something broken, but that happened the day against Barcelona," he said. "There were cracks as the fans left the Bernabeu that day. A lot of things happened that had not happened before.
"The team was wounded by a difficult result, which weakens the coach with his players. We spoke in that moment with a rupture with Madrid's fighting history. On Sunday, very quickly, something not so nice happened, which is not so normal, with a team like Rayo scoring two goals, and Madrid's confidence not strong enough, and there was a storm for 10 or 15 minutes.
"Ronaldo, in his role as undisputed leader of this team, calmed the storm. It did not seem so serious to me -- telling the fans that was not the attitude the team needed in that moment. It was a type of conversation between a leader and his fans. Then the goals solved the problem, even against a team with nine."
The "El Larguero" show also recalled that Mourinho had been whistled regularly by Bernabeu fans towards the end of his previous spell at the club -- and that the controversial figure had by the end fallen out with his fellow countryman Ronaldo, as well as having serious issues with other senior dressing room figures including now club captain Sergio Ramos.
