Real Madrid News
Jose Mourinho adds 24-year-old versatile Portuguese defender to Real Madrid wishlist
Real Madrid may have already strengthened their defence this summer, but their recruitment plans appear far from complete.
According to journalist Ramon Alvarez de Mon, Benfica defender Tomas Araujo is among the names that Jose Mourinho has personally recommended to the Real Madrid hierarchy as the club continues to assess options for another defensive addition.
While no concrete move has been made at this stage, the Portuguese defender has entered internal discussions as Mourinho pushes for further reinforcements at the back.
It is known that despite the recent arrival of Ibrahima Konate and the decision to extend Antonio Rudiger’s stay at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid are still looking for defensive reinforcements.
Mourinho wants another elite defender
Notably, Konate’s arrival was expected to provide an immediate boost to the back line, while Rudiger’s contract extension ensured the club retained one of its most experienced defenders.
Even so, Mourinho believes another top-level centre-back is required before the transfer window closes.
On that note, the likes of Riccardo Calafiori and Josko Gvardiol have both featured prominently in transfer discussions, and Araujo is now the latest defender to emerge as a possible candidate.
For the moment, however, Real Madrid’s interest remains at the evaluation stage rather than active negotiations.
Why is Araujo attracting attention?
At 24 years old, Araujo combines strong defensive qualities with impressive consistency, making him an attractive option for clubs seeking long-term solutions.
One of the biggest factors working in his favour is his availability.
Last season, under Mourinho himself, he featured in 39 matches across all competitions for Benfica, accumulating more than 2,700 minutes of football while contributing one goal and two assists.
Furthermore, his versatility also increases his appeal. Although naturally a centre-back, Araujo is capable of operating at right-back when required, offering tactical flexibility that Mourinho has often valued throughout his managerial career.
The defender is currently contracted to Benfica until 2029, meaning any potential transfer would require negotiations with a club that holds a strong position.
Simply put, even if Araujo is not currently the most glamorous name linked with Real Madrid, the profile fits what the club may be looking for.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. admits finishing problem after another frustrating night vs Elche: ‘Can’t miss that much’
Vinicius Jr.’s difficult start in front of goal continued against Elche, and the Real Madrid forward did not need anyone to tell him he had missed another chance to make the difference.
The Brazilian finished the night without a goal despite having chances to get on the scoresheet, while his teammates could only watch from the bench as opportunities went begging.
Jose Mourinho had already identified the problem before kick-off, bluntly pointing to the issue facing his forward, stating, “He’s missing the goal.”
Vini offered an equally frank assessment afterwards.
Rather than hide from another frustrating evening, he accepted responsibility on social media: “The goals will come back; I can’t miss that much…”
Two chances, no finish for Vinicius
Vinicius had two particularly clear openings against Elche, but neither produced the finish Real Madrid needed from their star forward.
The first arrived when he found himself one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper.
Instead of finding the net, Vinicius caught the ball with the tip of his foot and sent his effort wide. Arda Guler was available during the move and called for the ball, but Vini backed himself to finish the chance.
He had another opportunity after the interval, this time following an excellent pass from Guler during a quick Real Madrid transition. Again, though, Vinicius could not find the target.
His evening ended in the 68th minute, with Mourinho deciding the Brazilian was tired and turning his attention towards Sunday’s Atletico Madrid derby.
Mourinho has a bigger decision to make
The numbers show why Vinicius’ finishing has become a talking point. He managed five shots against Elche, but only one was on target and none found the net.
After seven appearances this season, the Brazilian has scored just once, which is a striking return for a player Real Madrid rely upon to provide a major share of their attacking threat.
Ultimately, though, Real Madrid found another route to victory, with Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe and Carlos Espi providing the goals in the 3-2 comeback.
