Gvardiol does his bit to give Madrid move life

One of the players Mourinho considers essential to his project is Croatian defender Gvardiol (24), who is currently under contract with Manchester City until June 2028. The Portuguese coach believes he is the missing piece needed to strengthen the defence. Gvardiol’s versatility is particularly valued, as he can perform at a high level both as a centre-back and as a left-back.

Mourinho has conducted a detailed assessment of the squad and does not want to leave anything to chance. Aware that the right flank is heavily geared towards attack, with two top-quality players in Dumfries and Trent, he wants defensively reliable options on the left side. Both Gvardiol and Calafiori are on his shortlist.

However, Gvardiol is the primary target and also the most difficult to sign. Although the Zagreb-born defender endured a somewhat inconsistent season due to injuries, he remains highly regarded within Manchester City’s hierarchy. The club values not only his defensive qualities but also his professionalism, humility and popularity within the dressing room. City paid $103 million to RB Leipzig for him in 2023, underlining the importance they place on him.

Real Madrid are already exploring a potential move, while recognising that other opportunities exist in the market. Calafiori, for example, would be significantly easier to prise away from Arsenal. There is also another obstacle in Gvardiol’s case: Manchester City acted quickly after the season ended and have already presented him with a contract extension. This is a significant signal of how highly the club rates him, especially considering he still has two years remaining on his current deal.

Not everything is negative from Madrid’s perspective, however. Aware of Real Madrid’s interest and of Mourinho’s desire to bring him to the club, Gvardiol has asked City for time to consider his future. The defender is currently with Croatia at the World Cup and does not want to rush his decision. No doubt Modrić is reminding him of how joining Real Madrid transformed his career. The additional challenge for Madrid is that Manchester City are not known for selling key players. Nevertheless, Guardiola’s departure and Matarazzo’s arrival have created a degree of uncertainty within the squad, and several players are reportedly willing to listen to offers and consider a new project away from City.

As for Real Madrid, with Konaté and Dumfries already secured, the plan is to complete the signing of a versatile left-sided defender before focusing on the club’s final priority: the two midfielders Mourinho wants to add to strengthen the team. One of those targets is Mateus Fernandes of Fulham, a dynamic box-to-box midfielder known for his work rate. The other is a creative playmaker in the mould of Vitinha, capable of bringing greater cohesion to the team’s football. Madrid are also keeping a close eye on the World Cup, where new talents invariably emerge. It has become something of a tradition for Florentino Pérez to use major international tournaments as an opportunity to identify potential signings.

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