Real Madrid advance on four fronts: Mourinho wants Mateus Fernandes in midfield
Real Madrid entered the transfer window with a clear script and have already reaped results. Under the command of José Mourinho, the merengue club structured the market around three priority axes: reinforce the defence, bring in a holding midfielder and sign a centre-forward. Two of the three points already have concrete movement. The third, curiously, dropped off the radar.
Defence reinforced, but still incomplete
On the defensive line, Madrid acted with speed. Konaté, Cucurella and Dumfries were confirmed, three signings that cover different positions and significantly broaden the tactical range available to the Portuguese coach. Even so, Mourinho is not satisfied.
The manager insists on the arrival of one more central defender, preferably someone with a profile to play on the left side. The club has not yet closed that name, and the search remains active. There is no immediate rush, but the desire is clear: Mourinho wants options so as not to depend on improvisation in such a sensitive position.
Bernardo Silva has arrived, but the right holding midfielder is missing
In midfield, Bernardo Silva has already signed. A heavyweight reinforcement, without doubt, but one that does not solve the gap in the core. The Portuguese arrives to play in a more advanced position, and Madrid still need a player with more of a build-up and balance profile.
Many names have come up in recent weeks, but the one who won Mourinho’s preference was Mateus Fernandes. The 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder, currently at West Ham, is pointed to as the coach’s favourite to fill that role. Young, technical and with the muscle for physical English football, he represents exactly the profile Madrid are looking for: someone who grows within the project and already delivers from the first year.
Gonzalo could stay, Olise is Florentino’s big bet
The most surprising twist came in attack. At first, the arrival of a new centre-forward was practically certain – and would take Gonzalo to the exit door. The return of Endrick to the group, now with a real possibility of playing on the right side in Mourinho’s setup, changed the calculation. Today, the club does not see the signing of a forward as a priority. Mourinho spoke directly with Gonzalo: the coach will not force the exit, nor block it if the player wants to go. The decision is in the athlete’s hands.
Separate from these negotiations, there is the chapter of the big name. Florentino Pérez wants a “Galáctico” and has only one real target: Michael Olise. The French-British forward, a Bayern Munich revelation and an increasingly established figure in the French national team, is the president’s personal objective. The Bavarian club repeats that he is not for sale. Real Madrid, as usual, prefer to ignore that kind of statement and keep trying.
