Two days before the 2026 World Cup began, José Mourinho met with Real Madrid director general José Ángel Sánchez, chief scout Juni Calafat and agent Jorge Mendes at Hotel Santo Mauro in Madrid to plan a summer overhaul, sources told ESPN. Mourinho had not yet been formally announced as the club’s coach but was already directing transfer discussions, according to ESPN.
The change in approach is visible in the age profile of Madrid’s recent recruits. ESPN noted that the club’s summer 2025 signings — Dean Huijsen (20), Álvaro Carreras (22), Franco Mastantuono (18) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (26) — averaged 21 years, six months. This window’s additions — Marc Cucurella (27), Bernardo Silva (31) and Ibrahima Konaté (27), with Denzel Dumfries (30) expected to be made official shortly — average 28 years, nine months. ESPN reported that Mourinho is prioritizing immediate impact rather than long-term rebuilding.
Left back became an early priority. Madrid had spent €50 million on Álvaro Carreras from Benfica 12 months earlier and still had Fran García and Ferland Mendy on the books, but moved quickly to sign Cucurella from Chelsea for an initial €55 million, sources told ESPN. Barcelona and Atlético Madrid had shown interest, but Mourinho’s preference accelerated the deal, according to the club’s account of events.
Cucurella said his agents informed him the clubs had reached agreement before the paperwork was completed and that the transfer was wrapped up in about a day and a half. He added that a phone conversation with Mourinho stood out because the coach recalled specific plays involving the fullback from a Champions League meeting between Chelsea and Mourinho’s Benfica side in September 2025, a detail that underscored Madrid’s interest.
Carreras lost his place toward the end of last season amid a dressing-room clash with teammate Antonio Rüdiger, and Madrid view Cucurella — popular at Chelsea and with the Spain national side — as an immediate on-field lieutenant for Mourinho, sources told ESPN.
Bernardo Silva was also flagged at the June 9 meeting as a priority, according to ESPN. The Portugal midfielder, who has won six Premier League titles and a Champions League, was set to be available at the end of his Manchester City contract; Mendes warned Madrid to act quickly as other clubs, including Atlético and Barcelona, had been involved in discussions, sources said. Once Madrid moved, the pursuit proceeded without prolonged debate, ESPN reported.
