Real Madrid’s unanswered transfer needs highlight Mourinho’s midfield and defensive concerns

The weaknesses in Real Madrid’s squad are highlighting the importance of the players Jose Mourinho asked the club to sign during the summer 2026 transfer window.

According to a report by Sport, Mourinho arrived at the club with a largely settled view of what was required to rebuild the team. Real Madrid met many of his demands, bringing in Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ousmane Diomande and Espi.

However, two areas were ultimately left short: another central defender alongside Konate and a midfielder capable of giving the team greater control, balance and variety.

Rodri deal falls through

Mourinho had a specific profile in mind for midfield. He wanted a player who could build attacks from deep, organise the side and bring calmness and better decision-making to an area that had raised doubts at the Santiago Bernabeu for some time.

Rodri emerged as the leading target. Real Madrid made every effort to persuade the Spain international to join, and Mourinho spoke to him personally, but Rodri eventually chose Barcelona.

The club did not pursue any of the alternatives available in the transfer market. Mourinho also appeared to play down the significance of the failed move in public.

After the deal collapsed, the Portuguese manager said Real Madrid were not short of options in midfield, pointing to Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva and Arda Guler.

Mourinho described Rodri as “the cherry on top of the cake”, a comment that appeared to close the matter publicly. Yet the midfielder had been identified as one of the priorities for his project when he took charge.

Defensive shortage exposed

Mourinho’s other unfulfilled request was for an additional centre-back. Although Real Madrid signed Konate, the manager wanted further reinforcement in a position that had been among the team’s main weaknesses in previous seasons.

The club had considered creating space for another defender if one of the existing players left, but no move materialised. Raul Asencio suffered an injury but remained part of the squad, and the transfer window closed without the extra central defender Mourinho had requested.

That decision is now under greater scrutiny. Asencio has yet to make his first appearance under Mourinho and is expected to be out for between two and four months with a broken leg. Konate and Eder Militao are also dealing with fitness problems.

Real Madrid’s options are particularly limited for the next match, with Dean Huijsen suspended after being sent off in the derby.

Midfield remains an equally significant concern. In one of the early matches of the season, Mourinho tried Trent Alexander-Arnold alongside Valverde in the centre, but the experiment was an evident failure.

Although Mourinho has publicly defended the quality of his defensive and midfield players, observers outside the club have repeatedly identified weaknesses in the squad’s construction. Had Real Madrid completed all of Mourinho’s requested deals, he would now have two additional players who could have played important roles during the season.