Jose Mourinho wants to transfer a striker to Real Madrid » The class player could arrive for free
Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Friday, May 22, 2026, 10:35 a.m. / Updated Friday, May 22, 2026, 10:35 a.m.
The Serbian Dusan Vlahovic (26 years old) appears as one of the first major requests of Jose Mourinho (63) upon returning to the technical bench of Real Madrid. The Portuguese technician wants a classic number nine and Vlahovic is seen as option 1 at the moment.
The move is being watched with interest at the Santiago Bernabeu as the Serbian forward's contract with Juventus Torino is coming to an end and he could arrive without a transfer fee. His salary, however, will be a key element in the whole equation.
Mourinho believes that Real Madrid need a striker of reference, strong in the box and able to fix the central defenders. Dusan Vlahovic fits this profile and that is precisely why he is seen as the main solution, according to fichajes.net.
Jose Mourinho wants Dusan Vlahovic at Real Madrid
The Lusitanian coach wants a more competitive team with more tactical options for balanced matches. In this context, the Serbian gains ground over other options.
Vlahovic is in a delicate situation at Juventus Torino, his contract is entering the final year and negotiations for an extension are currently blocked.
The problem lies in the contract numbers. The striker earns around 12 million euros net per season, a sum that is difficult for the Italian club to support.
Juventus Torino intends to reduce this salary in the upcoming contract. The player, on the other hand, does not want to sign an extension that would significantly diminish his financial status.
The management of Juventus is aware that this case can become a major problem. If an agreement is not reached, Vlahovic will become free of contract and will be able to negotiate with any club. The “bianconero” team has already held talks with the footballer's entourage, and any scenario is possible.
All the while, Real Madrid is monitoring the situation. Florentino Perez does not want to rush, although the possibility of bringing in a goalscorer without paying a transfer fee is very attractive. For Mourinho, Dusan Vlahovic offers something that the current squad lacks: a box striker, aggressive, dominant in the air and used to handling pressure.
The presence of players like Vinicius, Bellingham, Rodrygo or Endrick does not eliminate the need for a classic number nine.
Real Madrid can afford a big salary for the Serbian, but they don't want to upset their balance. This will be the deciding point in any negotiations for Dusan Vlahovic, with the player reportedly asking for between 10 and 12 million euros per season, a significant figure even for a club with great financial power. The installation premium will also factor into the final equation. However, Juventus will try until the last moment to avoid a free departure.
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