Sporting key man won't join Madrid, not the right profile | OneFootball

Morten Hjulmand is not part of Real Madrid’s plans to strengthen the midfield in this transfer window. Although the Sporting captain continues to attract interest from several European clubs, the Denmark international does not fit the profile José Mourinho is looking for.

The Portuguese coach considers the signing of a midfielder with more creative and playmaking qualities to be a priority. The departure of Luka Modric, who left the club in the summer of 2025, is still being felt in the Spanish capital, leading the board to look for a player capable of taking on responsibilities in build-up play, according to the newspaper 'Marca'.

Despite the consistency he has shown while playing for Sporting, the midfielder is seen by the Madrid hierarchy as a player with more physical and defensive characteristics, which does not fit the needs identified by Los Blancos. Meanwhile, Franco Mastantuono has been linked with the Lions.

Among the most highly rated names is Mateus Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder, currently tied to West Ham, is seen as one of the preferred options, although the deal appears complicated due to the high fee demanded by the English club and strong competition from other Premier League sides.

Another identified target is Enzo Fernández. The Chelsea Argentina international remains very highly regarded on the market, but the large investment needed to convince the London club to negotiate could make any move by the Spaniards difficult.

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