Real Madrid could reportedly alter Federico Valverde’s ‘non-transferable’ status amid strong interest from Manchester United, as incoming manager Jose Mourinho faces early challenges in shaping his squad. Mourinho is nearing a second spell at the Bernabeu, having reached an agreement in principle on a three-year contract with club president Florentino Perez, which will be formally announced after his commitments with Benfica conclude.
The potential sale of Valverde, 27, stems from recent incidents within the Real Madrid training ground. The Uruguayan midfielder has been involved in two physical altercations with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, resulting in both players being fined €500,000. Reports from The Mirror suggest a majority of the Madrid squad now favour Tchouameni, potentially pushing the club to consider offers for Valverde.
Manchester United are reportedly preparing a bid in the region of €100-120 million (£87-104 million) for Valverde, according to Spanish newspaper AS. However, United will face competition from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, with PSG having reportedly contacted Valverde’s representatives to express their interest. This competition could drive up the price for the highly-rated midfielder, who has been a key figure for Real Madrid in recent seasons.
Alongside the Valverde situation, Mourinho is also encountering obstacles in his pursuit of Manchester City’s Rodri. Both Mourinho and Perez identify Rodri as a key target, but City are actively working to retain the Spaniard, whose contract expires in 2027. City sporting director Hugo Viana is leading efforts to offer Rodri a new, lucrative contract and potentially the captain’s armband, currently held by Bernardo Silva, who is expected to leave this summer. Sources indicate Rodri is receptive to extending his stay at the Etihad, complicating Mourinho’s plans.
Perez remained tight-lipped regarding potential interest in Erling Haaland, stating he would not comment on transfer speculation, deferring to the sporting director. He did acknowledge the need for improvement despite Kylian Mbappe’s impressive goal-scoring record. The situation highlights the complexities Mourinho will face as he attempts to rebuild the Real Madrid squad to his liking.
