23 May 2026 10:02 BST |
4 min read
Jose Mourinho is not yet back at Real Madrid, yet the manager is already preparing a “major blow” for superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Mourinho is poised to return to the Bernabeu in a deal designed to bring about order in the Spanish capital after a campaign of chaos.
The Portuguese is expected to shake up the locker room, and one of the ways he plans on doing this is by upsetting Mbappe, the player who has been Madrid’s superstar over the past couple of campaigns, but who has been jeered by fans in recent times.
Mourinho targets Osimhen and Vlahovic
Mourinho has made Manchester City midfielder Rodri his first major signing target while it is widely reported that the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss will make multiple defensive signings. But El Chiringuito states that he is ready to bring in serious offensive competition for Mbappe in attack.
With Gonzalo Garcia expected to leave at the end of the season, Victor Osimhen and Dusan Vlahovic are in the viewfinder of Mourinho, who wants another forward to compete with Mbappe.
Osimhen is Mourinho’s first choice, but is the more complicated operation. The Nigerian ace is under contract at Galatasaray until 2029. His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) sits at €76.7m after a campaign in which he has scored 22 goals and laid on a further seven assists.
On the other hand, Vlahovic will be a free agent in June. The Serb’s future likely lies away from Juventus. Indeed, the biggest impediment to a move is likely to be interest from rival clubs, with Milan, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich all targeting the 26-year-old, who has rarely featured in Serie A this term.
What does this say about Mourinho’s plans for Mbappe?
Mourinho’s move to bring in another striker has been described in France as a “major blow” for Mbappe, who would become a little less indispensable in Madrid.
However, there has been an overriding feeling in the Spanish capital that Los Blancos have grown too reliant on the former Monaco and PSG striker, who has been the subject of internal tension with Vinicius Junior.
Mourinho’s plan is to subtly make Mbappe feel less untouchable.
Osimhen, however, looks an improbable arrival. Such a move would surely only add to the internal stress at the club given that he would be another Galactico seeking to play every match. The financial implications also make such a move unlikely. With Real Madrid likely prioritising two or three defenders as well as a midfielder, it’s unfeasible that they will have the type of money left over to snap up the former Napoli forward.
Vlahovic, however, looks a more probable arrival, despite clearly operating at a lower level. He would also make a more natural backup option for Mbappe.
Mourinho’s attempts to reconfigure Real Madrid’s squad have begun – and he’s showing that no one is safe.
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