Mourinho ‘to prioritise’ Real Madrid defence as Benfica future on hold | OneFootball

José Mourinho has yet to confirm his departure from Benfica, yet is reported to be planning next season at Real Madrid. The club’s election process continues to delay any formal announcement.

As reports that Mourinho has already handed the Madrid hierarchy a detailed assessment of the squad after studying the team’s recent matches.

Defence is viewed as the most pressing issue, with one or two centre-backs on his list and reinforcements sought for both full-back positions.

In midfield, he wants a holding player to compete directly with Tchouaméni and another with a more creative profile, similar to Fredrik Aursnes.

He sees little need to overhaul the attack. Madrid must first address potential departures before moving for targets, with the situations of Alaba, Carvajal, Ceballos, Camavinga and Rüdiger remaining unresolved at the club.

Benfica, meanwhile, are still awaiting a definitive response from Mourinho. The elections in Madrid could trigger a domino effect in planning, slowing next season’s preparations and delaying Benfica’s outlook for 2026/27.

Source: Glorioso 1904