The midfielder that Mourinho likes costs 50 M€

Morten Hjulmand has become one of the first requests of José Mourinho for his new project at Real Madrid. The Portuguese coach firsthand knows the impact of the Danish midfielder at Sporting de Portugal and believes that his signing would raise the competitive level of the white midfield.

The transfer could be around 50 million euros, a significant but affordable amount for a club that needs to strengthen a key area of the field. Atlético de Madrid and several teams from the Premier League are also interested in the player, so Real Madrid will have to act quickly.

Mourinho wants muscle and order in the midfield

José Mourinho knows perfectly well what type of players he needs to build a reliable team from day one. His football has always placed enormous importance on balance, intensity without the ball, and the ability to compete in individual duels. In that context, Hjulmand emerges as a very attractive piece.

The Dane is not a midfielder of superficial brilliance but a tactically weighty player. He organizes, corrects, pressures, steals, and sustains the team in moments of maximum demand. He is one of those players who may not dominate headlines but end up being indispensable for the big names to play with more freedom.

Mourinho has experienced this during his time in Portugal. The Sporting midfielder has been one of the mainstays of the Portuguese league, to the point of wearing the captain's armband at a club of great demands. That hierarchy does not go unnoticed.

Real Madrid has a midfield with a lot of talent, but it has not always found the exact profile to provide stability in certain matches. Hjulmand could fill that gap: a player with expertise, energy, and the ability to balance the team when the game breaks open.

Sporting prepares for a major sale

Sporting de Portugal knows it will be difficult to retain Hjulmand if a strong offer emerges during the summer. The player has a valid contract and a high release clause, but in Lisbon, they are aware that the market could bring the operation to more realistic figures.

The 50 million euros appear as an amount capable of starting a serious negotiation. It would not be a minor sale for the Portuguese club, which in recent years has shown great ability to develop, enhance, and transfer talent to major European leagues.

Hjulmand arrived at Sporting after excelling in Italy with Lecce, where he had already shown signs of being a midfielder with European potential. He blossomed in Portugal, gaining importance, assuming leadership, and becoming a key figure in a competitive and recognizable team.

His profile also holds special value because there are not many defensive midfielders of his caliber available in the market. At 26, he is at a perfect age: experienced but still with room to make a bigger leap at a high-pressure club.

Losing him would be a clear sporting blow for Sporting, while for the player, this summer could mark the ideal moment to step up to a higher level.

Real Madrid must outpace the Premier League

The main issue for Real Madrid is the competition. Hjulmand is not only of interest in Chamartín. Atlético de Madrid has closely followed him as a potential reinforcement for their midfield, and several Premier League clubs have also inquired about his situation.

The English league poses a real threat. Its clubs have economic power, pay swiftly, and typically bet heavily on physical, intense midfielders ready to adapt to a very high pace. Hjulmand fits well in that ecosystem.

Therefore, Real Madrid cannot afford many doubts if Mourinho considers him a priority. In such operations, speed can be decisive. Waiting too long could open the door to an uncomfortable auction or to the player committing to another project.

Furthermore, the Dane would have reasons to view the Madrid option very positively. He would arrive at one of the biggest clubs in the world, with a coach who knows him well and the opportunity to play a significant role in a squad designed to win from day one.

Mourinho wants a midfielder who provides structure, aggression, and reliability. Hjulmand meets those requirements and seems prepared to take the leap.

Real Madrid already knows the approximate price and is aware of the threat from its competitors. If the white club wants to satisfy its new coach, it will have to act promptly. In an increasingly fast market, major signings do not wait around.