José Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid set to blow major United transfer out of the water – report

Manchester United are reportedly considering a move for Federico Valverde this summer but prising him away from Real Madrid may have just become more difficult. The Red Devils are looking to revamp their midfield this year after finishing third in the Premier League. The English giants are preparing to face Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium next weekend in the final Premier League game, which will be their 40th match of the season. That will be the fewest games they have played in a campaign since the 2014/15 season. United, however, have qualified for next season’s Champions League, so they could have a congested fixture list next campaign. With Casemiro set to leave and Manuel Ugarte also likely to be on his way out, the Red Devils are keen to add a world-class midfielder to their squad before the start of the new season. A previous report relayed by The Peoples Person named Valverde among the options for the job. LaLiga’s finest midfielder? Valverde arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2016 from Penarol as an emerging South American talent. After a successful loan spell with Deportivo La Coruna, the Uruguayan midfielder broke into the senior side in the 2018/19 season. Valverde soon cemented his place in the starting XI, operating in midfield as well as on the wings when required. His versatility, work ethic, and ability to influence games made him a key figure under former manager Carlo Ancelotti. The 27 year old retained his importance under the Italian’s successor, Xabi Alonso, and has also been a first-team regular under Alvaro Arbeloa, who took charge in January. Valverde has registered nine goals and 13 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid this season, all but two of which have been starts. Federico Valverde Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played LaLiga323058312,657′ UEFA Champions League131334–1,163′ Supercopa22111-158′ Copa del Rey11—-90′ Total4846913414,068′ Source: Transfermarkt. The Uruguayan, however, was recently involved in a training ground row with Aurelien Tchouameni that has raised doubts about his future. It was reported that Real Madrid had decided to offload Valverde following the incident, with United hot on his heels. An update on the saga has now emerged that will not please the Red Devils. United suffer Valverde blow According to Football Insider, incoming Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho could block Valverde’s move to Old Trafford. The report states: “Manchester United could see any move for Real Madrid star Federico Valverde blocked by Jose Mourinho this summer, sources have told Football Insider.” Speaking on the Transfer Inside podcast, journalist Pete O’Rourke added: “If he’s allowed to leave Real Madrid this summer, you would imagine most of Europe’s big clubs would be interested. Obviously it looks like Jose Mourinho will be returning to the Bernabeu as well. He’ll have a huge role to play in the future of Valverde if he wants him to stick around as well.” “No surprise that Manchester United have been credited with an interest in Valverde. Valverde has always indicated that he wants to stay at Madrid and sees them as his dream club and let’s see what Jose Mourinho has got planned.” “I expect Mourinho will be looking to keep hold of Valverde and all of Real Madrid’s other star players, so it could be very difficult to get a deal done.” Acclaimed journalist Fabrizio Romano has recently reported that the former United manager has already agreed to take charge at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer. Final Thoughts While Valverde appears to be out of reach this summer, United can still significantly improve their midfield by signing Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson. The Englishman was on fire against the Red Devils at Old Trafford on Sunday and showed why he could be the ideal replacement for Casemiro. 🚨 BREAKING: José Mourinho back to Real Madrid, HERE WE GO! 💣🤍 All terms have been verbally agreed between José Mourinho and Real Madrid, waiting to sign all documents. Plan for initial two year deal, JM to travel to Madrid after Real-Bilbao game. The Special One is back. pic.twitter.com/K267WgiqjC — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 18, 2026 Featured image Denis Doyle via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.