Mourinho turns his back on Benfica, draws up Real Madrid wish list | OneFootball

José Mourinho is already drawing up plans for the overhaul of Real Madrid’s squad, and one of his priorities is to strengthen the full-back positions. After moves for Denzel Dumfries and Konaté, the Portuguese coach has reportedly identified two new targets to compete with former Benfica player Álvaro Carreras on the left side of the defence: Josko Gvardiol and Riccardo Calafiori.

According to reports in Spain, the manager believes it is essential to add greater defensive balance to the team. With the possible presence of attack-minded players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dumfries on the right flank, Mourinho wants to offset that scenario with a more defensively solid left-back, who is also capable of playing in central defence when needed.

It is precisely that versatility that makes Gvardiol and Calafiori particularly attractive options for the Portuguese coach. Both can operate as either centre-back or left-back, offering different tactical solutions to the Madrid side.

However, either deal promises to be complex. Gvardiol remains an important player at Manchester City and is under contract until 2028. The Croatia international was signed from Leipzig in 2023 for around €90 million, and any potential departure will also depend on the assessment of the citizens’ new manager.

Calafiori, meanwhile, could emerge as a more affordable alternative. The Italy international is under contract with Arsenal until 2029, having joined from Bologna in 2024 for €43 million. Even so, he lost some prominence in the final stretch of last season, a circumstance that could make a possible negotiation easier.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.