Updated: 24 May 2026 21:35 BST |
4 min read
Morten Hjulmand admits it is a “great honour” to see his name being linked with Real Madrid amid speculation incoming manager Jose Mourinho wants to make the Sporting CP captain his first signing.
Widespread reports have indicated Mourinho, who managed Real between 2011 and 2013 and won three major honours, is in final negotiations to complete a dramatic return to the Bernabeu.
The 63-year-old, who is currently in charge of Portuguese giants Benfica, has been lined up to replace Alvaro Arbeloa, with the Spaniard announcing on Friday that he will leave the club at the end of the season.
Ahead of Mourinho’s imminent arrival, there has been plenty of speculation surrounding who the Portuguese may look to sign in his attempts to make Real a force again in 2026-27, with the club having recorded a second successive season without winning a trophy.
One player who is being strongly linked with a move to Real is Hjulmand, with Spanish outlet COPE claiming Mourinho has already made the club aware of his desire to work with the Denmark international.
Hjulmand joined Sporting from Italian side Lecce in 2023 and has gone on to make 141 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals and winning three major honours including successive league titles in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
And when asked about talk of a possible move to the Spanish capital, the 26-year-old expressed his joy upon hearing the recent reports, though the midfielder refused to elaborate further.
In quotes carried by Spanish publication MARCA, Sporting star Hjulmand said before Sunday’s shock Taca de Portugal final loss to minnows Torreense: “It’s a great honor for me to see my name linked with a club like Real Madrid, but I’m at Sporting and I care deeply about this club.
“I don’t think this is the right moment to talk about my future. The focus has to be on Sporting and the match, especially since we haven’t won any trophies this season yet, and that’s the most important thing. I’ll talk about my future after the final game of the season.”
Mourinho watched Hjulmand up close as Benfica and Sporting contested title
Hjulmand and Sporting were looking to end their season on a high with victory in the Taca de Portugal showpiece, but the club were stunned by second division side Torreense 2-1 after extra time.
Sporting also finished second in the Portuguese top flight this season, six points behind champions Porto and two ahead of Mourinho’s Benfica, who went unbeaten across the 34-game calendar.
Meanwhile, Real wrapped up the La Liga season with a 4-2 win over Athletic Club at the Bernabeu on Saturday, with Arbeloa’s men finishing second and eight points behind champions Barcelona.
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