Mourinho targets Ruben Dias in £80m swoop as Real Madrid grow confident of Bernabeu move

Jose Mourinho has made Ruben Dias one of his top priorities since returning to Real Madrid for a second spell in charge, with the club growing increasingly confident of prising the centre-back away from Manchester City in a deal worth around £80 million.

Real president Florentino Perez is prepared to back Mourinho’s pursuit and is readying an initial bid for the 27-year-old, who remains under contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2028. City, however, are determined to resist any approach, with incoming head coach Enzo Maresca viewing Dias as central to his rebuilding plans.

The departure of John Stones has only heightened Dias’s importance to City’s defensive structure, making the club even less willing to entertain offers. Mourinho has earmarked Dias to form a partnership with Antonio Rüdiger at the heart of Real’s defence.

City signed Dias from Benfica for £60 million in 2020, and the Portugal international has since helped the club win 11 major trophies, including the historic Treble in 2023. Despite that success, the exit of Pep Guardiola has raised questions about the futures of several key players, and Dias is said to be open to a new challenge having achieved everything available to him in Manchester.

Real are also monitoring Dias’s City team-mate Rodri, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner who has long been a target at the Bernabeu. However, sources close to the club acknowledge that completing a double deal involving both players would be close to impossible.

Bernardo Silva, meanwhile, is set to join Real as a free agent after bringing his City career to a close at the end of the season, giving the Spanish club at least one significant addition from the Etihad without a transfer fee.