Why did Mourinho request the signing of Carlos Espí?

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15/08/26 19:30:00

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José Mourinho specifically requested the signing of Carlos Espí, a 21-year-old forward, from the Real Madrid board in this summer transfer window. A swift move by the "merengue" team to bolster their offensive rotation.

The Portuguese coach highlighted the player's qualities to the white leadership, and the club immediately set out to pay the €25 million release clause to Levante, covering Gonzalo García's move to Fulham for €40 million and ending up with a positive balance of €15 million.

⚽ This is how Carlos Espí plays! pic.twitter.com/oRtQRuGI97

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) July 30, 2026

How does Carlos Espí play?

The main reason behind this transfer lies in the attacker's ability to make an impact in short periods of gameplay. Standing at 1.94 meters tall, the striker scored 13 goals last season in 1440 minutes across 27 matches, starting as a first-team player in just 14 games, indicating his adaptability to a secondary role in the Real Madrid rotation.

His effectiveness in the box is supported by his finishing metrics: he scored 13 goals after 23 shots on target out of a total of 39 attempts. This precision meets Mourinho's tactical requirement for a box specialist capable of coming off the bench and breaking tight scorelines.

Contribution in aerial game and defensive pressure against Mbappé

The physical characteristics of the ex-Levante player offer tactical resources that were lacking in the Real Madrid attack. The player scored 4 goals with his head last season and has an average of 3.16 duels won per 90 minutes, a figure contrasting with Kylian Mbappé's 0.20 duels won average.

In the defensive phase, the forward records 33.91 pressures per 90 minutes, surpassing Mbappé's 12.47 pressures. These statistics justify Mourinho's request for a player with the ability to play with his back to goal, capable of engaging rival center-backs and winning aerial duels in low-block games.

The Real Madrid coaching staff will integrate the forward into group dynamics starting from July 31, 2026. Mourinho will experiment with variations in the offensive system during preseason matches, using the new addition as a direct option for finishing and direct play in the final stages of the games.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¿Por qué Mourinho pidió el fichaje de Carlos Espí?