Jose Mourinho is reportedly keen to bring Piero Hincapie to Real Madrid, just weeks after the defender completed a permanent move to Arsenal. The Portuguese manager, recently re-appointed at the Santiago Bernabeu, is seeking to bolster his central defensive options ahead of the new season.
Real Madrid have already secured deals for Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella and free agents Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva, but Mourinho is understood to want further reinforcement in the heart of defence, particularly a left-sided centre-back. According to ESPN, the club have made an enquiry regarding Hincapie, who impressed during a loan spell with the Gunners.
Hincapie, 24, joined Arsenal permanently this summer after the club triggered a £45 million option to buy following a successful loan from Bayer Leverkusen. He started 30 games across all competitions for Arsenal last season, showcasing his versatility by playing both at centre-back and left-back. Manager Mikel Arteta praised Hincapie’s character, revealing that former Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso described the player as a “warrior” and “one of the most competitive” he’d managed.
Despite Mourinho’s interest, a move for Hincapie appears unlikely given Arteta’s high valuation of the player and his importance to the Arsenal squad. Real Madrid are also considering alternative targets, including Manchester City’s Ruben Dias, Alessandro Bastoni, and Nico Schlotterbeck. The Spanish giants will likely need to offload players before making further additions as Mourinho aims to challenge Barcelona for domestic dominance. This pursuit comes alongside reported interest in Tottenham Hotspur’s Nico Paz and Manchester United targets Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, indicating a busy summer for Real Madrid.
