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Mourinho seeks Real Madrid to pursue Benfica's Araujo amid defensive overhaul

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 23, 2026, 7:00 AM

Last updated Jun 23, 2026

Mourinho seeks Real Madrid to pursue Benfica's Araujo amid defensive overhaul

Summary

Jose Mourinho is advocating for Real Madrid to sign 24-year-old defender Tomas Araujo from Benfica, despite the recent acquisition of Ibrahima Konate. Reports indicate that Araujo, currently participating in the World Cup, is Mourinho's top defensive target, as Real Madrid aims to bolster its backline further. The urgency for additional defensive players has increased due to complications in securing other targets, including injuries and financial demands for Nicolo Schlotterbeck and Alessandro Bastoni. Real Madrid is still reviewing the squad's condition and potential departures before finalizing any deals in the defensive market.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Mourinho prioritizes signing Tomas Araujo for Real Madrid.
•Ibrahima Konate has already joined to strengthen the defense.
•Real Madrid's defensive options have become limited due to injuries.
•Araujo is currently at the World Cup, raising his profile.
•Real Madrid is assessing squad changes before pursuing new signings.

Latest Updates

7:00 AMYahoo Sports — Mourinho urges Real Madrid to sign 24-year-old Portuguese defender despite Konate’s arrival – report

What they're saying

"
Real Madrid may have already strengthened their defence this summer, but Jose Mourinho believes the job is not finished yet.The arrival of Ibrahima Konate was expected to solve one of the club’s big...
— Yahoo Sports

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