Jose Mourinho and Florentino Perez agree on blockbuster transfer to save Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho is closing in on a return to Real Madrid and plans are already afoot for a spectacular transfer to get the ball rolling at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has reportedly agreed terms with Mourinho, who managed the club between 2010 and 2013, guiding them to the title in 2011-12.

Mourinho usually arrives at a club with some demands. You can't make a Spanish omelette without spending a few hundred million eggs.

The Portuguese boss and Perez appear to be in agreement that a Ballon d'Or-winning midfield maestro should be at the top of their transfer target list.

"We understand both Mourinho and Perez firmly believe Real never truly replaced the influence, control and leadership once provided by Toni Kroos and Luka Modric," reports TEAMtalk.

Real Madrid are eager to sign Rodri from Manchester City and Mourinho, whose appointment doesn't have the approval of everyone connected with the club, is on board.

The 29-year-old midfielder is contracted to Man City until the summer of 2027.

"Mourinho is understood to view the Man City star as the ideal figure to restore authority and balance in the middle of the pitch, while Perez equally sees the Spain international as the calibre of player capable of becoming the heartbeat of the next great [Real] Madrid side," according to TEAMtalk.

Madrid-born Rodri is regarded as one of the world's finest midfield players. He won the Ballon d'Or in 2024 after leading City to a maiden Champions League as part of a historic treble in 2022-23.

It's exactly the sort of profile a club of Real Madrid's stature should be hunting at the outset of a new era after a trophyless season.

It's all happening at Real Madrid

La Liga still has three rounds of fixtures to play in the 2025-26 season but Real Madrid are already hitting the close-season with a vengeance.

Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa is set to be replaced by his former manager amid several reported physical altercations between teammates at the training ground.

Perez moved to calm things down by convening an emergency press conference on Tuesday, railing against speculation about his future, calling new presidential elections at the Bernabeu and clashing with a journalist during a bizarre rant.

"An absurd campaign has been created to attack me personally. They say 'where is Florentino?' If I normally don't speak. They say that I'm sick and have terminal cancer. I continue presiding over Real Madrid and ACS. My health is perfect," said the 79-year-old.