Mourinho Targets Mateus Fernandes for Real Madrid Signing

José Mourinho has not even taken charge of a Real Madrid training session yet, but the outline of his new midfield is already starting to form — and at the centre of it sits West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes.

The 21-year-old arrives at the summer market with his reputation enhanced, even as his club drops through the trapdoor. Three goals and four assists across 36 Premier League games do not tell the whole story of his season, but they explain why Europe’s elite have circled so quickly around a player now far too big for The Championship.

West Ham’s relegation for 2026/27 has changed everything. A year ago, prising Fernandes out of east London would have taken a fortune and a persuasive project. Now, with the Hammers braced for life outside the top flight, the expectation is clear: he will move on before the window closes.

Mourinho wants to make sure that move leads straight to the Bernabéu.

According to Diario AS, the incoming Madrid coach has already delivered his first list of transfer requests to the club hierarchy. Mateus Fernandes is on it. Prominently.

“Mourinho has drawn up a list of suggestions, and on it is the name of Mateus Fernandes. Mourinho wants him, and Real Madrid are already making moves to please the manager,” the report states, underlining how quickly the club have reacted to his recommendation.

For Mourinho, the logic is obvious. He inherits a Real Madrid midfield rich in quality but in need of fresh legs and new profiles for the next cycle. Fernandes offers energy, vertical running and end product from the centre of the pitch, traits that stood out even in a West Ham side fighting — and ultimately failing — to stay in the division.

The competition for his signature, though, is already fierce. Arsenal and Liverpool have also entered the race, both monitoring the situation closely as West Ham prepare for bids. Each can offer Premier League continuity, a familiar environment and clear roles in ambitious projects.

Madrid counter with something different: the lure of the white shirt, the chance to work under Mourinho, and a stage where standout performances resonate across the continent.

West Ham, relegated and realistic, know they are holding a valuable but vulnerable asset. With three heavyweight suitors in play and a 21-year-old determined not to spend a key development year in the second tier, the only real question now is not whether Mateus Fernandes leaves — but which giant he chooses to lead his next chapter.