The 23-year-old is reportedly closing in on a one-year loan move to Arsenal.

"The point is, he’s a young boy, he wants to play every match. He wants to be happy to play, he wants to play to be happy," Mourinho said.

"And in Real Madrid with Xabi Alonso, with [Sami] Khedira, with Lassana [Diarra], [Esteban] Granero, [Mesut] Ozil, the situation is not easy.

"Real Madrid is very difficult. It is not an easy club, because we demand a lot. We have great players, and when you don’t start well, it is difficult to do it.

"If he stays, he’s not a problem for me, he’s one more solution. We leave [the situation] in his hands. Be happy. Decide what you want to decide, to be happy.

"If you decide to leave we are going to help you to leave. If you decide to stay, we are going to support you and try to succeed this season."