Jose Mourinho and Florentino Perez of Real Madrid
Photo courtesy: Real Madrid official website
Real Madrid could be prepared to break one of its long-standing transfer policies this winter, with Jose Mourinho potentially given the final say on whether the club enters the January market for a midfielder.
According to Defensa Central, Florentino Perez would be willing to make an exception to Real Madrid’s usual reluctance to sign players midway through a season if Mourinho concludes that his squad needs reinforcement.
Notably, there is no specific target at this stage, nor has the club begun actively searching for a midfielder.
Hence, any move would depend on how Real Madrid perform over the coming months and Mourinho’s assessment of his options.
Mourinho could change Real Madrid’s January approach
It must be noted that Real Madrid have traditionally avoided the winter transfer window unless circumstances leave the club with little choice.
Jose Mourinho and Florentino Perez of Real Madrid
Florentino Perez is ready to make an exception for Mourinho. (Photo courtesy: Real Madrid official website)
The preference has been to work with the existing squad, promote from within or wait until the summer when a wider selection of players becomes available.
That policy could now be tested by Mourinho.
The Portuguese is expected to assess the balance of his midfield throughout the first half of the campaign, and if injuries, form or a lack of depth leave him short of options, he could ask Perez to consider an addition in January.
The president, according to the report, would be prepared to listen rather than automatically reject the request.
It is important to note that this does not mean Real Madrid are planning a January signing. Rather, the decision will only come into play if Mourinho identifies a genuine sporting need.
Perez will not sanction a signing just to add depth
Jose Mourinho, Manager of Real Madrid
Mourinho will have to provide a solid ground for a January signing. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Real Madrid’s hesitation over January transfers has traditionally been linked to the difficulty of finding the right player at the right price.
Clubs are understandably reluctant to lose important players in the middle of a campaign, while those who are available can command inflated fees.
That makes the winter market particularly difficult for a club operating with Real Madrid’s sporting and financial expectations.
Perez is therefore not expected to approve a deal simply because Mourinho wants another body in midfield.
The player would need to offer an immediate solution while also making sense within the club’s longer-term planning.
Arsenal assistant coach admits interest in Real Madrid forward – “His name was on the table”
Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid player
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Before signing a lucrative renewal at Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr.’s future was up in the air in the summer transfer window.
The Brazilian international was particularly linked with a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal emerging as a potential destination.
The move did not materialise at the end, with Vinicius ending up signing a contract extension that should seal his long-term future at the Bernabeu.
Arsenal assistant coach admits interest
Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid player
Arsenal were interested in Vinicius in the summer. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
One month into the new season, Arsenal have now admitted they indeed had interest in signing Vinicius Jr. in the summer.
Miguel Molina, one of Mikel Arteta’s assistant coaches at Arsenal, has revealed that the player’s name was on the list of targets for the Gunners.
“Yes, of course. Obviously, I can’t ignore reality, but his name was already on the table,” he said (h/t MARCA).
Molina’s comments are in line with recent reports that suggest even some of Vinicius’ teammates at Real Madrid expected him to join Arsenal this summer.
This is hardly surprising as Arsenal were in the market for a new explosive forward this summer. Other than Vinicius, they had also emerged as an outside candidate to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid. But the Gunners were unable to sign either of them.
Vinicius Jr. struggling at Real Madrid
Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid
Vinicius must return to full form after the break. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Real Madrid’s decision to hand Vinicius a lucrative renewal, however, hasn’t paid dividends so far.
The Brazilian international has struggled with form, racking up only one goal in all competitions so far, while registering three assists.
Vinicius has once again found it difficult to build a solid partnership alongside Kylian Mbappe, who has been criticised over his positioning as a striker, as he often tends drift into the left side.
Recent reports indicate that Jose Mourinho is slowly losing patience with Vinicius Jr. and it won’t be surprising to see the forward losing his place in the starting eleven if his form continues.
At the same time, Mourinho remains a huge admirer of the Brazilian’s quality and believes he can bounce back when club football resumes after a long international break.