In a surprising turn of events, legendary manager José “The Special One” Mourinho is set to return to Real Madrid, thirteen years after his original tenure ended.
Following a crushing defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona that left the team in disarray, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reported his well-known “HERE WE GO!” alert. He confirmed that all terms have been verbally agreed upon for an initial two-year contract, marking a significant reunion with the eccentric and highly decorated Portuguese coach.
As Mourinho outlines his tactical strategy to restore order in the Spanish capital, his attention is now focused on recruiting top talent for the summer. This structural overhaul sets the stage for exciting transfer rumors: Mourinho reportedly wants Manchester City star Joško Gvardiol to anchor his new defensive unit.
During meeting at Real Madrid with José Mourinho defenders were also discussed.
Josko Gvardiol high on list and was never a possibility for Bayern — but #MCFC offered him new deal with salary rise last week.
Calafiori deal not advanced so far.
https://t.co/VIi52EQcdf pic.twitter.com/LWdtaTiPJl
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 10, 2026
In high-level planning meetings with the club’s executives, discussions about defensive reinforcements took center stage. According to a detailed update shared on X by Fabrizio Romano, Gvardiol has emerged as a top target on Mourinho’s transfer wishlist.
While Romano clarified that Gvardiol was never realistically attainable for German giants Bayern Munich, securing the versatile defender from Manchester City will be a formidable challenge for Los Blancos. Acknowledging the growing interest from other clubs in their defensive linchpin, Manchester City responded by offering Gvardiol a lucrative contract extension with a substantial salary increase just last week.
Despite these challenges, Mourinho is determined to pursue the Premier League standout to bring much-needed resilience to Madrid, especially since alternative options have yet to progress. Romano also noted that a potential deal for Riccardo Calafiori has not made any headway, making Gvardiol the focal point of Mourinho’s ambitious plans for defensive re-engineering.
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