Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is being linked with a return to the Real Madrid job.
Before Jose Mourinho was hired by Manchester United in 2016, the Portuguese manager spent a three-year stint in charge of Real Madrid.
Mourinho is now at Benfica where he is inching closer towards an invincible season, but according to David Ornstein on X, he is the preferred candidate for the Madrid vacancy.
United have been linked to Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni ahead of the summer transfer window, but Mourinho’s return at the Bernabeu could complicate matters.
Jose Mourinho on the touchline as Benfica manager
Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP via Getty Images
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Jose Mourinho could force Aurelien Tchouameni U-turn
United have shown interest in Tchouameni because there are reports that Madrid are ready to let the French midfielder leave this summer as part of a midfield rebuild.
But if Mourinho steps back into the Madrid hotseat, he could change the club’s transfer stance.
Throughout his career, Mourinho has preferred to use highly physical midfielders who can cover ground well and dominate duels – they are two of Tchouameni’s biggest strengths.
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Tchouameni has an elite mentality and has a player profile that suits the kind of players that Mourinho has loved working with in the past.
If Mourinho informs the Madrid board that he wants to keep Tchouameni as part of his plans, it could end United’s interest before the summer window even begins.
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Tchouameni can be Jose Mourinho’s Scott McTominay at Real Madrid
During their time together at United, Mourinho gave McTominay his debut for the Red Devils, and brought the Scottish midfielder into the mix as a regular first-team star.
Mourinho was full of admiration for McTominay, and Tchouameni plays a similar role in midfield for Madrid as a bruiser and enforcer.
READ MORE: Aurelien Tchouameni would be hugely exciting but Man Utd are missing the point with second target
While Tchouameni struggled to fit into previous Madrid plans, he could become a key player under Mourinho if he is hired by the Spanish giants.
Thankfully, United have several midfield targets to pursue this summer so ruling out Tchouameni would be a blow, but not a disaster.
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