Mourinho wants to bring Calafiori to Real Madrid despite Arsenal contract until 2029

José Mourinho is targeting Riccardo Calafiori to strengthen Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, according to the Mirror and Sky Germany. The Italian international defender is tied to Arsenal until 2029, which does not appear to discourage the Portuguese manager, still awaiting official confirmation of his appointment to the Madrid bench.

The link between Mourinho and Calafiori is paradoxical: it was the Portuguese coach who decided to sell the Italian to FC Basel for just €2.5 million in 2022 while managing AS Roma. Since then, the player has made considerable progress, to the point that Arsenal spent €45 million to recruit him from Bologna in 2024. Transfermarkt now values him at €55 million.

Calafiori’s versatility, capable of playing as a centre-back or left-back, is one of the main assets that appeals to Mourinho. The Gunners, known for not selling their key players cheaply, should not facilitate such a deal, especially since the player has a long contract with the London club.

This matter is part of a broader context of speculation around Real Madrid, where several names are circulating for the transfer window: Erling Haaland, Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries have notably been mentioned in recent weeks, at the initiative of the two candidates for the club’s presidency, Florentino Perez and Enrique Riquelme. The Madrid presidential elections, scheduled for 7 June, should clarify the club’s sporting direction before the major summer moves truly begin.