Exciting move that revealed his intentions… Mourinho’s first goal opened the door for Real Madrid

Croatian defender Joško Guardiol has temporarily suspended talks with Manchester City over a contract extension, which could allow Real Madrid to explore signing him in the upcoming transfer window amid strong interest from Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho, media reports have revealed.

According to Spanish outlet AS, Mourinho, who has been reflecting on his new project at Real Madrid, believes that Guardiol is the ideal fit to strengthen the backline, thanks to his ability to play in central defense and left-back positions with great efficiency, giving him a big advantage on the wanted list.

Sources say the Portuguese coach has assessed the squad comprehensively and believes there is a need for greater balance between the defensive and attacking sides.

Although the team has strong attacking options on the right, Mourinho is looking to sign a big defensive stalwart on the left front, with Guardiol and Italian Ricardo Calafiore among the most popular candidates for this role.

Guardiol is the first target of the Madrid administration, despite recognizing the difficulty of completing the deal. Despite his injuries last season, the player is still highly regarded by Manchester City, who consider him one of the key elements of the club’s sporting project, thanks to his technical ability, professional personality and positive influence in the dressing room.

The English club paid around 90 million euros to buy the Croatian defender from German side Leipzig in the summer of 2023, which reflects the amount of investment they made to sign him.

In an attempt to keep hold of the player, Manchester City moved quickly at the end of the season and offered to extend his contract, although his current deal runs until the summer of 2028, a clear indication of the position he occupies at the club.

Despite this, Real Madrid received an important morale boost after Guardiol asked the City board to consider his future for some time before making a final decision on an extension, especially given the Spanish club’s interest and Mourinho’s clear desire to include him.

The player is currently with Croatia for the 2026 World Cup, where he is expected to have extra time to consider his next options.

Reports suggest that the idea of ​​a move to Real Madrid is attracting interest from the Croatian defender, who does not want to rush into deciding his future.

On the other hand, “Real Madrid” realizes that negotiating with “Manchester City” will not be an easy task, especially since the English club is not known for easily parting with its stars. However, the changes the club has witnessed recently may prompt some players to explore new offers in search of a different challenge.

On the other hand, reports suggested that Real Madrid continue to work to strengthen in several positions, having already made some defensive deals, while midfield remains one of Mourinho’s top priorities in the coming period as part of a comprehensive plan aimed at building a team that can compete for all the titles.