Real Madrid News
Mourinho identifies his next major Real Madrid signing; contacts established with agents
According to a report update shared by SPORT, Real Madrid have stepped up their interest in Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck, with Jose Mourinho viewing the German as one of his priority targets to strengthen the heart of the defence.
Despite already reinforcing the backline with the arrivals of Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konate, Real Madrid are not finished rebuilding their defence.
Rather, the club continue to explore the market for another high-level centre-back, and Schlotterbeck has emerged as one of the most serious options under consideration.
The report adds that Real Madrid have already made contact with the player’s entourage in order to gather information about a possible summer move.
Next piece of Mourinho’s defence
The pursuit of Schlotterbeck shows just how determined Real Madrid are to overhaul a defensive unit that has faced criticism over the past two seasons.
For now, Konate’s arrival has already added quality and experience, but Mourinho wants more depth and competition in central defence.
Schlotterbeck’s profile fits exactly what Real Madrid are looking for.
In that regard, Mourinho believes the German could become an important part of his long-term defensive project at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The club’s interest is also understandable when considering Schlotterbeck’s age profile. At 26, he is entering the prime years of his career and already possesses significant experience in both domestic and European competition.
Special clause in his contract
What makes this story particularly interesting is the contract situation surrounding the defender.
Schlotterbeck recently signed a new Borussia Dortmund contract until 2031, a move that initially appeared to end speculation regarding his future.
However, it is said that the agreement includes a special release clause that can only be activated by a select group of elite European clubs, with Real Madrid among that group.
The clause is valued between €50 million and €60 million, a figure that Los Blancos are believed to view as manageable for a player of Schlotterbeck’s quality and experience.
Real Madrid News
Report: Mourinho’s preferred pivot combination for Real Madrid’s big games this season
The midfield pecking order at Real Madrid still remains unclear five games into the new season, especially given that Los Blancos could not make the signings they expected.
Federico Valverde has remained a constant in the double pivot under Jose Mourinho, but his partner has changed constantly.
Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva have been the manager’s primary options to partner Valverde in midfield so far this season, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s absence through injury has been one pioneering factors for the same. The Frenchman, however, is back now from injury and it remains to be seen how the dynamic changes.
The big game pair
As confirmed in a recent update on El Larguero, Jose Mourinho has decided his pivot his big games now and it will indeed be the Valverde-Tchouameni combination.
The Uruguayan star has made his presence felt this season with strong shifts in terms of pressing and an attacking output. He was even named the man of the match against Inter Milan and is seemingly undroppable.
What Tchouameni will bring to the table, however, is defensive solidity – something that is a non-negotiable given that the forwards barely provide any defensive work-rate.
Having Valverde and Tchouameni at the base of midfield will help cut short opposition buildups and disrupt the play.
Waters will be tested soon
Tchouameni made his much-awaited return to the field in Real Madrid’s game against Inter Milan and came on for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 79th minute.
He briefly joined Valverde in the double pivot at the time and provided a glimpse of how the duo can work in tandem in the defensive midfield. However, the waters are yet to be tested adequately.
With the Frenchman now fit, Jose Mourinho could well look to start the duo together in Real Madrid’s coming games. They have played together in the past, but doing so in a double pivot in Mourinho’s system is demanding.
Moreover, there are concerns over the team’s drop in creativity and distribution with Valverde and Tchouameni at the heart of midfield, and it remains to be seen if the manager can come up with a workable solution.
After all, the players had a bad falling out on a personal level just months ago.
