El Clasico will be buzzing again next season as Mourinho prepares to land back in Madrid with the goal of dragging Los Blancos out of their trophy malaise.
No major trophy in the last two seasons has set alarm bells ringing in the Spanish capital and Mourinho faces a tall order to bring them back up to speed domestically and in the UEFA Champions League.
Mourinho's burning rivalry with Pep Guardiola dominated his first spell at the Estadio Bernabeu from 2010 to 2013 as he won one La Liga title and Barcelona claimed two.
Xabi Alonso's ill-fated tenure has now been consigned to memory in Madrid, as Alvaro Arbeloa steadied the ship in the second half of 2025/26, to set the stage for Mourinho.
The 63-year-old will not formally take charge until after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the club have already secured several transfer deals, including a link up with his Portuguese compatriot Bernardo Silva.
With fans expectant of a wild few months ahead, Bale - who arrived at Real Madrid three months after Mourinho's first exit - has outlined exactly how his comeback could play out.
"After having an experienced coach like Carlo Ancelotti, I expect José to stabilise the group and get everyone on the same page.
"He pushes you to bring out your best level as a player, he'll try to understand each player, and find whatever it takes to make them function.
"Sometimes that might mean putting pressure on someone in midfield, sometimes it might just be giving them a hug. He's been at Real Madrid before, so he understands the dynamics of the club and he knows how things work. He'll come up with a plan to make it work."
With the majority of his new squad away on World Cup duty, Mourinho could push preseason training back until the start of August, as he looks to power up momentum back in Madrid.