Real Madrid Target Osimhen as Mourinho Sets Conditions for Bernabeu Return

(Victor Osimhen. Photo by Daily Post)

Real Madrid have reportedly added Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen to their list of transfer targets for the summer, as the club moves closer to bringing Jose Mourinho in as their new manager.

The Spanish club is gearing up for a significant squad overhaul following a difficult season, with Mourinho said to have already earmarked the Nigerian striker as his preferred attacking option.

Mourinho's interest in Osimhen is not new the two were acquainted during their time in Italian football, when Osimhen was at Napoli and Mourinho led Roma.

The manager has previously drawn comparisons between the striker and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, a player he signed during his time at Stamford Bridge.

From Madrid's perspective, signing Osimhen would give Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. more room to thrive, particularly in situations involving aerial play.

On the managerial front, discussions between Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes and Real Madrid's leadership are already underway, though serious negotiations are expected to pick up only after the football seasons in Spain and Portugal conclude. Mourinho, currently managing Benfica, is reportedly open to returning to the Bernabeu, but has set two clear conditions.

First, he wants a meaningful say in transfer decisions, similar to the influence he had during his first stint at the club, when he helped bring in the likes of Luka Modric, Mesut Ozil, and Sami Khedira.

Second, he is demanding that the coaching staff be given full independence, with no external interference in the running of the team a stance shaped by what happened with Vinicius Jr. and former coach Xabi Alonso.