Jose Mourinho’s first Real Madrid signing announced in Spain

News

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid is a matter of time from being made official, and the Portuguese has already decided upon his first signing for the Bernabeu side, according to the media in Spain.

One of the conditions that Mourinho laid down to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez when he was negotiating his return to the club was that he would have a say in the club’s transfer business.

The Portuguese has already made his first demand, and that is for Los Blancos to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri, according to Sport.

Rodri makes Real Madrid his ‘first option’

Rodri has been a long-time target for Real Madrid, who are already “working in the shadows” to complete a deal for the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.

The 29-year-old, who will turn 30 in June, is at a crossroads in his career. He is out of contract with Manchester City in 2027 and is reportedly open to the move.

Sport claims: “The player's idea is to return to Spanish football, and Real Madrid would be his first choice.”

City, meanwhile, are unlikely to willingly sell a player who has been such a vital piece of their success in recent seasons, particularly with Pep Guardiola set to leave the club in the summer.

Negotiations are, therefore, expected to be tricky. Rodri’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) sits at €81.2m, which promises to test Real Madrid's transfer budget.

Rodri a typical Mourinho signing

Real Madrid’s vision in midfield is likely to align with that of their new manager. Rodri has been a player long linked with the Bernabeu side, who have tried and failed for the past two years to find a replacement for Toni Kroos. The Man City captain would be an obvious candidate to fill the void given his technical and leadership qualities.

Meanwhile, the Spain international has a profile that fits with a typical Mourinho signing. He is notorious for putting his faith in veteran players, so to that end, a deal for Rodri adds up.

Mourinho official announcement a matter of time

Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid has been inevitable for several days. A report from Marca indicated last Saturday that a deal was done, and this has been followed by several other confirmations of the news.

AS now reports that the agreement between Mourinho and Madrid is “completely finalised”. He will sign a two-year deal with the club that will have the option for one further season. This option will be automatically triggered should he win the league title.

An official announcement is not expected until next week, however.

If he is to achieve that aim, an overhaul of the playing staff and culture at Real Madrid looks required, and signing Rodri would be a fine first step to achieving that target.