Real Madrid News
Jose Mourinho wants Barcelona priority target as Real Madrid’s next defensive leader
Real Madrid could be preparing one of the biggest transfer hijacks of the summer after reports claimed that Jose Mourinho wants Alessandro Bastoni as a key defensive signing for next season.
According to a major update from Miguel Serrano, as relayed by Madrid Zone, the Inter Milan defender has emerged as Mourinho’s preferred option to strengthen Real Madrid’s backline ahead of what is expected to be a major rebuild in defence.
The situation becomes even more interesting because Bastoni has been strongly linked with Barcelona in recent months.
The Catalan side had identified the Italian international as an ideal left-sided centre-back for Hansi Flick’s tactical system before financial complications slowed the operation significantly.
Now, Real Madrid could attempt to completely change the direction of the story.
Mourinho likes Bastoni
Mourinho feels Los Blancos need multiple defensive reinforcements this summer after a season where the centre-back department showed clear weaknesses.
Even before officially taking charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Portuguese coach is already said to be heavily involved in transfer planning behind the scenes.
And among all available options in the market, Bastoni appears to be the name Mourinho values most highly.
The Italian defender is widely regarded as one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in European football, and for Real Madrid, signing a defender of that level would strengthen an area that has caused many problems this season.
Furthermore, the added bonus, from Madrid’s perspective, is obvious – taking a priority defensive target away from Barcelona would make the operation even more satisfying inside the Spanish capital.
Can Bastoni transform Mourinho’s Real Madrid?
Once Mourinho returns to Real Madrid, defensive control will almost certainly become one of the biggest foundations of his new project.
Throughout his managerial career, the Portuguese coach has always built successful teams around strong, reliable defenders capable of dominating physically and tactically.
That is exactly why the Bastoni-Real Madrid transfer story makes so much sense.
The Italian international is entering the prime years of his career and already possesses the experience of competing at the highest level.
For Real Madrid, that profile and experience are extremely valuable.
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
