Jose Mourinho has not yet officially returned to the Santiago Bernabeu, but the Portuguese coach is already shaping his squad for next season.
No Defence, No Deal – Mourinho Makes Centre-Back Priority Number One
The 63-year-old has reportedly signed his contract with Real Madrid, and an announcement is expected soon.
According to Onda Cero, Mourinho has delivered a clear directive to the club’s board: sign a top-class centre-back to lead a complete defensive rebuild.
Why Mourinho wants a defensive player
Mourinho sees the heart of the defence as Real Madrid’s biggest weakness. He has made an elite defensive signing a non-negotiable condition for taking charge.
The urgency comes from a real personnel crisis. David Alaba will leave on a free transfer, taking massive experience and leadership with him.
Antonio Rudiger is showing signs of age-related decline, while Eder Militao continues to struggle with repeated injury problems. Mourinho believes the defensive structure could collapse without immediate world-class reinforcements.
Who does Mourinho want to sign?
The Portuguese manager has already told the board which defenders he wants. His absolute top target is Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.
Mourinho views the Italian international as the ideal leader for his new project and has personally spoken to Bastoni to convince him to join.
If Inter refuse to sell, Real Madrid will turn to a strong alternative: Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate. The French defender looks set to leave Anfield as a free agent.
His physical power, recovery speed, and big-game experience make him a very attractive option.
Mourinho wants the deal done quickly. He knows that rebuilding the defence will define his second spell at Real Madrid, and he refuses to wait.
The message to the board is simple: deliver a major centre-back, or the project cannot succeed.
