Jose Mourinho returns to Real Madrid, plans €100 million player spend

Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho has taken charge of Real Madrid for the 2026/27 season, saying his love for the club prompted the comeback. In interviews he pledged to help star forward Kylian Mbappé improve further and dismissed rumours of a locker‑room purge, stating he wants to keep the best players and turn any problems into a strong team.

Mourinho’s transfer agenda focuses on freeing squad space by selling players and targeting several high‑profile signings. He is seeking a central defender and a midfield play‑maker with a profile similar to Luka Modrić, as well as a goalkeeper. Reported targets include Italian centre‑back Nico Schlotterbeck (about €50 million), Alejandro Bastoni (around €70 million) and other options that could cost €60‑80 million, with a possible €100 million deal for an Argentine talent. The goal is to invest roughly €100 million to strengthen key positions while managing the club’s financial balance.