Some managers arrive at a new club where it takes months for their transfer vision to become clear.
Jose Mourinho isn’t one of those managers.
He hasn’t even officially started at Real Madrid yet.
And the first name on his transfer list has already leaked.
Jose Mourinho requests Morten Hjulmand as first Real Madrid signing
According to COPE, Mourinho has made a personal request to the Real Madrid hierarchy for the signing of Morten Hjulmand.
The Danish international midfielder captains Sporting CP, where he’s quietly become one of the most respected defensive midfielders in European football.
The fee being discussed sits at around €50 million.
Sporting also have an €80 million release clause in place until the end of the summer window.
But are understood to be willing to negotiate below that figure given the two years remaining on his contract.
The timing of Mourinho’s interest carries an obvious logic.
He watched Hjulmand all season from the Benfica dugout.
And he knows exactly what he’s getting.
The request comes despite Real Madrid’s own recruitment team having focused primarily on Manchester City’s Rodri as the number one midfield target this summer.
Mourinho has other ideas.
And the fact that he’s already communicating those ideas before his contract is even officially signed tells you everything.
However, he was clear about his conditions before accepting the job; to have a say in Real Madrid’s transfer policy.
And a guarantee that the hierarchy would back his decisions in the market.
Florentino Perez agreed.
With Hjulmand is the first test of that agreement.
Also, he also wants a former Real Madrid player on his coaching staff, with Toni Kroos emerging as a potential candidate for that role.
It’s a comprehensive set of demands from a manager who hasn’t started yet.
But Mourinho has always known exactly what he wants.
The Hjulmand pursuit is just the beginning.
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