On Tuesday, June 9, just two days before the commencement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, four individuals gathered at a hotel in Madrid to strategize Real Madrid’s summer overhaul. In the luxurious Hotel Santo Mauro, a favored spot for Madrid players and executives in recent years, José Mourinho was joined by José Ángel Sánchez, the club’s director general, chief scout Juni Calafat, and agent Jorge Mendes.
Although Mourinho had not yet been officially unveiled as the new head coach, he was already taking the lead in discussions.
Historically, Madrid coaches have expressed frustration over their limited influence in transfer matters; for instance, Carlo Ancelotti’s requests for key player acquisitions largely went ignored. However, sources indicate a shift in this dynamic. Mourinho is not only being consulted but is also actively pinpointing targets and spearheading a new strategic approach.
This new direction is evident in the profiles of Madrid’s signings this season compared to the previous year. Last summer, they welcomed players like Dean Huijsen (20), Álvaro Carreras (22), Franco Mastantuono (18), and Trent Alexander-Arnold (26), yielding an average age of just 21 years and six months.
In contrast, this summer’s signings include Marc Cucurella (27), Bernardo Silva (31), and Ibrahima Konaté (27), with Denzel Dumfries (30) expected to be announced shortly. This brings their average age to 28 years and nine months.
Mourinho’s focus is clear: he is not constructing a team for the future; he is assembling a squad ready to compete immediately.
Marc Cucurella
Real Madrid invested €50 million to secure left-back Carreras from Benfica a year ago, in addition to already having two other left-backs, Fran García and the injury-prone Ferland Mendy. Nonetheless, they swiftly and unexpectedly finalized Cucurella’s transfer from Chelsea for an initial fee of €55 million.
Barcelona had previously shown interest in their former academy player, and Atlético Madrid also explored a potential move this summer. However, Mourinho’s desire for Cucurella ultimately led to the completion of the deal.
“It was very quick,” Cucurella stated on Thursday. “[My agents] called me in the morning, saying the clubs had already discussed everything. We finalized the deal in a day and a half … I believe the best part was how aggressively Madrid pursued me.”
During their conversation, Cucurella was impressed by Mourinho’s attention to detail, recalling specific plays Cucurella contributed to when Chelsea faced Mourinho’s Benfica in September 2025.
“Our conversation was brief; he didn’t want to take up too much of my time,” Cucurella shared. “What I appreciated was his recollection of my moments from when we faced Benfica in the Champions League, highlighting my contributions. That game was a while back, so it’s nice to see he valued my play.”
Left-back has been a challenging position for Madrid; Carreras struggled to maintain his spot on the team towards the end of last season after a dressing room incident with teammate Antonio Rüdiger. Cucurella, meanwhile, has proven to be a beloved figure at both Chelsea and Spain, and will serve as a key player on the pitch for Mourinho.
Bernardo Silva
During the June 9 meeting, a significant name discussed was Bernardo Silva, according to sources. The talented and experienced midfielder from Portugal – a player with a remarkable track record, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League title – was set to be available once his contract with Manchester City expired.
Mourinho emphasized that acquiring Silva on a free transfer should be prioritized. In response, Mendes – Silva’s agent – indicated that Madrid needed to act swiftly as terms for a deal had already been tentatively agreed upon with both Atlético Madrid and FC Barcelona, among others. Silva, understandably, was in high demand given his pedigree and the opportunity for no transfer fee.
Similar to the case with Cucurella, Mourinho’s influence proved crucial, and once Madrid’s interest was made clear, they swiftly secured the signing of the 31-year-old for a two-year arrangement. The challenge now is determining where Silva will fit into Mourinho’s restructured Madrid team. While he played on the right wing at City, he seems to have adapted better in recent years to a central midfield role.
This presents a dual advantage as Madrid needed reinforcement in both areas, and Silva brings technical quality alongside leadership, relentless work ethic, and a competitive spirit.
City’s coach Pep Guardiola has famously called him “my weakness … my favorite player.” Despite their differences, Guardiola and Mourinho may agree on one thing.
1:39
Nicol: Real Madrid only want Konaté because he’s a free agent
Ibrahima Konaté
The central defense was an area of urgent need for Madrid this summer. With Éder Militão sidelined due to yet another injury, Rüdiger, now 33, has signed a one-year extension, while David Alaba has left the club, and young prospects like Huijsen and Raúl Asensio (23) remain uncertain after mixed performances last season.
Liverpool defender Konaté was early on mentioned by president Florentino Pérez as part of his campaign promises during the recent election, having long been on Madrid’s radar in line with their strategy of pursuing top players with expiring contracts, similar to previous signings like Alexander-Arnold and Kylian Mbappé.
While it’s acknowledged that Konaté had a challenging season at Liverpool, prior to that he gained recognition as one of the standout defenders in the Premier League. Furthermore, it remains uncertain if Madrid’s defensive acquisitions are complete, leaving questions about Mourinho’s first-choice partnership as the 2026-27 season approaches. However, acquiring Konaté when his contract expired was an opportunity too good to overlook.
Denzel Dumfries
Having already signed Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool last summer, Madrid is now poised to announce the arrival of Dumfries as another right-back addition. The Inter Milan defender was another promise from Pérez during his campaign and will take over the role left vacant by club captain Dani Carvajal.
Like Silva, Dumfries represents a departure from Madrid’s recent transfer strategy, which typically avoids signing players over 30, especially for a fee such as €20 million for the Netherlands international.
This choice is influenced by the rocky adjustment Alexander-Arnold faced in LaLiga. Despite injuries limiting his minutes to 21 league appearances last season (1,163 minutes), even when he played, he struggled to make a significant impact, ranking only joint-41st in assists.
Dumfries brings a different dynamic to the right-back position, offering a stronger presence in the attacking box and aerial threat. It remains uncertain whether Mourinho will favor Dumfries or Alexander-Arnold as his starting right-back.
2:07
Laurens brands Real Madrid’s Julián Alvarez pursuit ‘nonsense’
What’s Next?
Sources inform ESPN that Madrid isn’t finished with their summer signings, aiming to bring in a midfielder and another center-back soon. Mourinho has already indicated his preferences for these positions.
The club has been monitoring Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández, who has expressed a desire to play in Madrid, among others such as West Ham United‘s Mateus Fernandes – someone Mourinho rates highly – and Lille’s rising star Ayyoub Bouaddi. As for center-backs, Manchester City’s Rúben Dias has also been mentioned.
Equally important will be the moves Mourinho endorses to offload players, as signing five or six new players — Cucurella, Silva, Konaté, Dumfries, with potentially two more — likely means a similar number of departures.
Incorporating another midfielder, for instance, would necessitate a departure, especially with the current presence of Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler, and now Silva already on the roster. There’s an intention to terminate Dani Ceballos‘ contract a year early, though an agreement has not yet been reached.
An attacking acquisition cannot be ruled out. Madrid has reportedly tabled a mischievous €150 million bid to secure Atlético’s Julián Álvarez, something Pérez hinted at, with sources also indicating that discussions have occurred between the club and the representatives of Bayern Munich‘s winger Michael Olise. (Real Madrid has denied these claims.)
Regarding young forward Gonzalo García, who saw limited opportunities last season under both Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa, it remains unclear if he will depart this summer.
Perhaps the most pressing matter is the future of Brazil winger Vinícius Júnior, whose contract expires in 2027. While he desires to remain at Real Madrid, negotiations for a new deal will only commence post-World Cup. At that point, Madrid must determine their strategy: comply with Vinícius’ demands for a new, lucrative contract, or decide whether to pursue a transfer or let the player run his contract down.
In both scenarios, Mourinho’s input will be critical, as he currently enjoys an unprecedented level of influence at a club where coaches have historically been expected to work with pre-determined resources.