"President, it's Mourinho or us"

The captains informed Florentino that several players would demand to be transferred if the Portuguese manager continues.

On Tuesday, just after 14:00h at the headquarters of ACS in Madrid, Florentino Perez meets with José Ángel Sánchez, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos. President, general manager, and the two captains of Real Madrid.

In theory there is just one item on the agenda: an agreement on premiums for the season. The agreement is settled quickly: ten million to share out amongst the team if they win the Champions League.

The captains assure Florentino that all the players are totally committed. They tell him they've held a meeting in the dressing room and are more united now than ever. But, significantly… the coach and coaching staff weren't at the meeting.

It’s just the team that's united, nobody else. They tell the President that they are determined to treat every match between now and the end of the season as though it were a final, that Sunday's performance wasn't a fluke, but a turning point.

The conversation turns to the future and this is when Casillas and Ramos inform the President how the team feels: "Boss, it's Mourinho or us." In a nutshell, if Mourinho continues managing Real Madrid next season, several of the top players on the squad will request transfers.