Jose Mourinho's return to Real Madrid is being framed less as nostalgia than as a rebuild. He has reportedly agreed a two-year deal, with an automatic one-year extension if he wins La Liga, and the first names being pushed into the conversation are Rodri, Morten Hjulmand and Eduardo Camavinga.

Why the midfield is the first priority

The clearest signal is Hjulmand. Mourinho has requested the Sporting CP midfielder, with the report putting his cost at around €50m. Sporting's captain has two years left on his contract in Lisbon, so this is not a cheap or casual link. It is the sort of target that tells you exactly where Mourinho wants the reset to begin.

The numbers behind the links point in the same direction. Rodri's 7.45 Premier League rating across 21 appearances marks him out as the stabiliser Madrid seem to want in the middle, while Hjulmand's 7.3 Primeira Liga rating across 27 matches backs up the idea of a midfielder who can do the hard work and still stay trusted every week.

That fits the tactical picture that has been reported too. The preview says Mourinho is expected to make 4-2-3-1 his default shape at Real Madrid, which puts the double pivot at the centre of the team rather than the edge of it. That is why these links matter more than the usual return-story chatter.

Camavinga is still part of the picture

Eduardo Camavinga is the complicated piece. One report said he had been excluded from France's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and another claimed he had made only 16 starts in La Liga this season. That is enough to explain why his future is being discussed at all.

But the strongest quotes point the other way. Fabrizio Romano said: "My understanding remains the same as it was two weeks ago: Eduardo Camavinga doesn’t want to leave Real Madrid. He’s not connecting Real Madrid’s problems with his own problems. He believes that it was an unlucky season, but he loves Real Madrid and wants to play for Real Madrid. The intention of the player is to stay."

Camavinga said something similar to football365.com: "It is always a pleasure and a dream. Since my first training session, I have wanted to be here since I was a child, so it is always a dream. When I go to training, I always think about victory and winning titles. And now I think we have to win again in the next match and next season."

So the clean reading is not that Camavinga is on his way out. The reports are mixed, but the most direct quotes in the brief still point to a player who wants to stay, with Real Madrid not closing the door on an exit but not forcing him out either. That leaves Mourinho's midfield project looking more like a reshape than a purge.

If the club do move for Rodri or Hjulmand, or keep Camavinga in a different role, the first changes under Mourinho will be about control. The next step is whether Madrid turn those links into actual business.

FAQ

Why is Jose Mourinho focusing on midfield at Real Madrid?

The reports frame Mourinho's Real Madrid return as a midfield rebuild first. He has reportedly agreed a two-year deal with an automatic one-year extension if he wins La Liga, and he has already requested Morten Hjulmand, with Rodri also linked as a stabilising option.

Is Eduardo Camavinga definitely leaving Real Madrid this summer?

No. The brief contains contradictory reports, but Fabrizio Romano says Camavinga does not want to leave and wants to play for Real Madrid. Camavinga himself also spoke about Madrid being a dream and wanting to win there next season.

What shape is Mourinho expected to use at Real Madrid?

The tactical preview says Mourinho is expected to make 4-2-3-1 his default shape. The idea is a double pivot, with quicker transitions and a more controlled midfield base rather than a chaotic, end-to-end approach.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →