League: LaLiga Sport: Soccer Country: Spain Category: Injuries

Real Madrid aims to sign top centre-back ahead of season

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 1, 2026, 7:25 AM

Last updated Aug 1, 2026

Real Madrid aims to sign top centre-back ahead of season

Summary

Real Madrid is preparing for its first pre-season friendly against Fiorentina with no first-team defenders available. Manager Jose Mourinho is urgently seeking a 'world-class' centre-back to enhance the team's depth. Ibrahima Konate is on vacation, and other defenders face fitness issues or long-term injuries. To make way for a new signing, the club plans to offload Raul Asencio, despite his recent injury setback. The academy's talents may be pressed into service as potential backups, with Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni emerging as a primary transfer target.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Jose Mourinho has no first-team defenders available for Fiorentina match.
•Real Madrid prioritizes signing a world-class centre-back this summer.
•Raul Asencio is expected to depart to facilitate a new signing.
•Ibrahima Konate and Antonio Rudiger are currently unavailable.
•Alessandro Bastoni has become a top target for the club.

Latest Updates

7:25 AMYahoo Sports — Real Madrid want to sign a ‘world class’ centre-back this summer – report

What they're saying

"
Real Madrid are staring at their first pre-season friendly against Fiorentina, and Jose Mourinho already stares at a situation where not a single first-team defender is available.While the new signing...
— Yahoo Sports

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