Real Madrid, under newly appointed manager José Mourinho, are reportedly interested in signing Arsenal defender Alessandro Calafiori during the upcoming transfer window. The club officially announced Mourinho’s arrival with a video on their social media channels, signaling a new era at the Santiago Bernabéu. This news comes amidst a busy period of planning for the Spanish giants as they look to reshape their squad for the next season.
Mourinho is familiar with Calafiori from their time together at Roma, where the Portuguese manager appreciated the player’s versatility but didn’t consistently feature him in the starting eleven. Despite this, Mourinho has always acknowledged Calafiori’s qualities and now believes the Italian international would be an ideal addition to a Real Madrid defense undergoing significant changes. The potential arrival of Calafiori would add depth to a backline that is expected to see further reinforcements, with Ibrahima Konaté of Liverpool and Denzel Dumfries of Inter Milan also identified as key targets.
Calafiori’s ability to play both as a central defender and a left-back is particularly appealing to Mourinho, offering tactical flexibility for a demanding season. However, the 26-year-old has recently experienced a dip in playing time at Arsenal, notably being left out of the squad for the Champions League final, potentially making him open to a move.
Beyond defensive reinforcements, Real Madrid are also monitoring midfield options. Alexis Mac Allister, currently with Argentina, is a reported target, although his father has indicated there are no ongoing discussions beyond existing interest from Liverpool. Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea is also on their radar, but Chelsea are demanding a fee of €120 million, which could prove prohibitive. The club is also tracking Marcos Cucurella, also at Chelsea, who is keen on a return to La Liga, with Atlético Madrid emerging as a strong competitor for his signature. Simeone's side are also considering bids for Morten Hjulmand of Sporting Lisbon and Aster Reijnders, who has struggled for consistent playing time at Manchester City.
