Real Madrid News
Inter Milan set €70 million price tag on Mourinho’s top defensive target for Real Madrid
Real Madrid are firmly pushing for a new central-defensive recruit after Ibrahima Konate, as Jose Mourinho is clear that the department requires wholesale changes.
Considering that Konate arrived as a free agent, Los Blancos are even willing to shell out a decent fee for a second elite signing in the department, and several names have come to the fore as possible targets.
One name heavily linked with the club, particularly as Jose Mourinho’s ‘chosen’ candidate, is Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni and AS now provides an update on the player’s situation and availability.
A big fee to be paid
As reported by the Spanish outlet, Bastoni was firmly in Barcelona’s transfer plans not too long ago, and at the time, the Serie A-based club were demanding a fee of €70 million for the star. The figure was said to be non-negotiable but sufficient to price him out of Italy.
Since Barcelona were unable to make such a massive proposal, they never officially sent an offer. The same deal, however, is available for Real Madrid to activate and thus sets the price on the Inter Milan star.
Should Real Madrid be prepared to table an offer of €70 million for the defender, Inter Milan would open the negotiation table and a move can be discussed.
After all, the player is ready to start a new chapter in his career and will not turn down a chance to sign for Real Madrid. Mourinho, moreover, ‘loves’ the player and is pushing for the transfer.
Clubs are already in contact
Real Madrid and Inter Milan have been in conversations for several weeks now over a separate transfer – the move of Denzel Dumfries to the Spanish capital with a €20 million price tag.
It is thus clear that the waters have been tested for Bastoni’s transfer too during the same conversations.
In addition, Real Madrid legends and Inter Milan legends played a recent friendly fixture this month where Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and Inter Milan president Beppe Marotta met and had discussions.
Given how the player is ready to move away from Italy and has ongoing tensions with fans in the Serie A, it is clear that even the Italians will see the current transfer window as the best moment to sell him for a handsome fee.
After all, his contract is only until 2028 and a renewal also looks unlikely.
After three successive wins to start the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis came as a reality check for Real Madrid, who are still some way off matching the quality and consistency of Barcelona.
In light of the defeat, the Real Madrid coaching staff is analysing the best way to get the most out of the current setup.
More expected from Valverde
According to Defensa Central, one of the key conclusions drawn from the Betis defeat is that Real Madrid need greater involvement from Federico Valverde with the ball.
The Uruguayan has been deployed as the pivot, largely due to the absence of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, but he is yet to make the step up in quality the team requires from that role.
While his effort and commitment are never in doubt, Mourinho and his staff, led by Sami Khedira, feel Valverde spends too much time positioned behind the opposition’s midfield line.
As a result, he fails to offer passing lanes to his teammates when they are under pressure, forcing them into hurried, aimless clearances rather than playing out cleanly from the back.
That concern has already been communicated to Valverde, who is still adapting to a position he has never truly played, making the challenge all the more difficult for him.
A collective issue to fix
However, the problem is not Valverde’s alone, with the coaching staff identifying a wider issue in the team’s structure.
Khedira has reportedly noted a certain passivity from the attackers in the videos of the match, particularly Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, when it comes to offering themselves as the ball transitions from midfield into attacking areas.
That lack of movement compounds the difficulties for the deeper midfielders.
Mourinho, for his part, remains unfazed by the departure of Rodri to Barcelona, insisting his squad has the tools to cope.
“I’m not missing Rodri. We have solutions, we have quality,” the Portuguese said, before adding that he backs his ability to improve players.
With a Champions League opener against Inter Milan on the horizon, Mourinho and his staff will be keen to iron out these issues quickly.
