José Mourinho Targets Mateus Fernandes for Real Madrid Rebuild

José Mourinho has never been shy about drawing up big plans before walking back into the Bernabéu. This time, one of the first names on his wishlist is a surprise: West Ham United’s relegated but rising midfielder, Mateus Fernandes.

According to AS, Mourinho has flagged the 21-year-old as a key target for his proposed Real Madrid rebuild, should Florentino Pérez win the upcoming presidential election and bring him back to the club. The Portuguese coach is already sketching out the spine of his next Madrid side, and in that vision, Fernandes is no footnote. He is central.

A bright light in a bleak West Ham season

West Ham’s season collapsed. Fernandes’ did not.

In a campaign that ended with the London club dropping into the second tier, the young midfielder carved out a reputation as one of the few reasons for optimism at the London Stadium. He played 36 Premier League matches, scored three goals and supplied four assists, but the numbers only tell part of the story.

Week after week, he carried responsibility in a struggling side, driving play, breaking lines, and working relentlessly without the ball. That blend of industry and initiative is exactly what has caught Mourinho’s eye. AS reports that the Real Madrid legend sees his compatriot as a “perfect fit” for the demands of the Bernabéu midfield, a player capable of influencing games at both ends of the pitch.

For a manager who prizes structure, intensity and tactical discipline, Fernandes’ profile ticks familiar boxes: energy, balance, character. Qualities Mourinho believes Madrid lacked last season.

Relegation opens a door – but not cheaply

Relegation usually means vulnerability. Contracts become leverage points, players look up, and bigger clubs circle.

West Ham’s drop to the second tier has inevitably invited interest from Europe’s elite, and Fernandes is now firmly on the radar. Real Madrid are not alone. Liverpool and Arsenal are also closely monitoring the situation, setting the stage for a potential Premier League–La Liga tug of war.

The London club, though, are not expected to roll over. Any conversation is likely to start around the £80 million mark. That figure is the first barrier, a statement that West Ham will not allow one of their most valuable assets to leave without a fight, even after relegation.

There is, however, a twist that could play in Madrid’s favour. Relations between the Spanish giants and super-agent Jorge Mendes have reportedly improved, and that renewed understanding could help smooth what would otherwise be a complicated negotiation. If Madrid decide to move decisively, they will not be doing so in the dark.

Mourinho’s midfield blueprint

For Mourinho, this is about more than a single signing. It is about redefining the heartbeat of Real Madrid’s next era.

He sees Fernandes as the kind of midfielder who can knit together a side that has, at times, looked stretched and unbalanced. Someone who can press, tackle, and still have the composure to dictate possession under pressure. In Mourinho’s mind, that justifies the investment.

The competition from England, the price tag, the politics of a presidential election – none of it makes this pursuit simple. But if Mourinho does walk back through the doors of Valdebebas with the power to reshape the squad, the message is already clear.

Mateus Fernandes is not just another name on a long list. He is one of the pillars on which Mourinho wants to build Real Madrid’s next project.