Jose Mourinho is on the verge of returning to Real Madrid as the club's next manager, and he has reportedly made the signing of Victor Osimhen a key condition for his appointment. The Portuguese coach is in talks with the Spanish giants following a disappointing season that saw Madrid finish without a trophy for the second consecutive year.
Madrid's Trophyless Season Sparks Change
Real Madrid ended the season empty-handed after a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona at Camp Nou, which confirmed Barcelona's 29th La Liga title. The club also suffered an early exit from the UEFA Champions League, losing to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, and were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by lower-division side Albacete. The season began with highly-rated Xabi Alonso as manager, but he was sacked in January and replaced by interim coach Alvaro Arbeloa.
The poor results have prompted the club to seek a new manager for the fourth time in two seasons. According to The Athletic, club president Florentino Perez sees Mourinho as his preferred candidate, and negotiations have already begun. Mourinho currently manages Benfica and has a break clause of €3 million, which Real Madrid is willing to pay.
Mourinho's Demands Include Osimhen
Mourinho, who previously managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, has laid out conditions for his return. Turkish outlet Fanatik, citing French reports, claims that Mourinho has requested the signing of Victor Osimhen as part of the deal. The Nigerian striker has never worked with Mourinho, but the manager has previously compared him to Didier Drogba, whom Osimhen idolizes.
Osimhen and Mourinho have faced each other in the Italian Serie A when Mourinho coached AS Roma and Osimhen played for Napoli. Mourinho also attempted to sign Osimhen during his tenure at Fenerbahce, but the move did not materialize.
Galatasaray Reluctant to Sell
Osimhen joined Galatasaray permanently at the start of the current season for €75 million, following an impressive loan spell in the 2024/25 season. Several top clubs, including Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal, have expressed interest in the striker. However, Galatasaray's vice president and sporting director, Abdullah Kavukcu, has stated his reluctance to sell, even for €150 million.
"I wouldn't sell Osimhen for 150 million Euros, but it's a matter for our president to decide. When you sell him, you also need to find a replacement player. That's very important," Kavukcu told HT Spor via Haber Sari Kirmizi.
In contrast, Turkish football commentator Sinan Engin has urged Galatasaray to sell Osimhen if they receive an offer around €120 million, claiming the striker's form has declined and it would be wise to cash in before his value drops.
