Mourinho freezes Real Madrid signings until key exits are done

Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho has told Real Madrid he will not approve any further summer signings until the club completes the departures of key players, insisting that no new defender or midfielder will be added until the squad is trimmed and the board gives its approval.

Often dubbed the ‘Special One’ and also referred to as Special One’, Mourinho’s reputation for demanding standards underpins his cautious approach to the transfer market. His insistence on high standards shapes every decision he makes regarding player acquisitions.

Florentino Perez and Co. have placed great trust in the Portuguese coach, granting him a free hand that has already produced signings such as Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Bernardo Silva. These acquisitions illustrate the latitude Mourinho enjoys when the board aligns with his vision.

Mourinho insists the board must provide at least one more world‑class centre‑back, arguing that Antonio Rudiger is not getting any younger. He also points to Eder Militao’s fitness as unreliable in recent years, reinforcing the need for fresh defensive reinforcement.

In midfield he is hunting a dynamic star who can act as a creative fulcrum, a quality Real Madrid missed last season. The ideal player would link defence and attack with comfort on the ball, providing the missing link in the squad’s engine room.

The report notes that both defensive and midfield positions are already stacked, making new arrivals impossible without departures, and singles out Raul Asencio as a player to be removed from the squad. Asencio’s exit is seen as essential to free up space for any incoming talent.

Eduardo Camavinga is labelled the top midfield candidate to leave, with Mourinho preferring the club to secure a new defender first and use that signing to persuade the academy graduate Asencio to exit. Camavinga, however, stands firmly against an exit and is working hard to convince Mourinho to keep him.

Consequently, Real Madrid must finalise the exits of Asencio and Camavinga before the Portuguese coach can approve any further signings, linking the club’s summer window directly to the resolution of these departures. Mourinho’s demands therefore shape the transfer strategy, ensuring that any additional defender or midfielder will only arrive after the squad is trimmed and the board’s agreement is secured.