Real Madrid have been linked with a shock move for Marcus Rashford with reports claiming Jose Mourinho would consider a reunion with his former Manchester United star in the Spanish capital.
With the Bernabeu engulfed in turmoil, Mourinho is being lined up for a sensational return to the club, 13 years on from his explosive first spell in charge.
Club president Florentino Perez, who hit out at the Spanish media in an extraordinary press conference this week, sees ‘The Special One’ as the only man who can restore order and unite a fractured dressing room.
Mourinho is said to be more motivated than ever with AS reporting he has made two requests – that he has unwavering control over first-team matters and that he has his say on transfer decisions.
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According to Miguel Delaney’s Inside Football Newsletter for The Independent, Mourinho would be interested in move to bring Rashford to Real Madrid – with the on-loan United star fresh from winning La Liga with arch-rivals Barcelona.
Rashford joined the Catalan giants on loan last summer in a deal that included an option to buy for £26million. Despite a healthy return of 14 goals 14 assists this season, Barcelona are not prepared to meet that price and are eager to renegotiate terms.
Rashford is keen to stay at the Camp Nou with United’s preference to push through a permanent sale.
The Inside Football Newsletter claims Mourinho would ‘love’ for Real Madrid to swoop in and sign Rashford for two reasons; one being he has a ‘good existing relationship’ with the England international, with the added bonus of such a move ‘causing disruption’ for Barcelona.
Mourinho managed Rashford for two-and-half seasons at United, taking the reins at Old Trafford shortly after the young forward broke into the first-team in spectacular fashion under Louis van Gaal.
United won the Europa League and League Cup under the Portuguese with Rashford scoring 24 goals across his two full seasons under his management.
During that second season, the subject of Rashford’s game time came under scrutiny with Mourinho passionately defending his handling of the then-20-year-old and their relationship.
‘Marcus is a fantastic boy,’ Mourinho said in March 2018. ‘He is also very grounded and, for sure, we love him, and we believe in him and he’s going to have the chances to keep developing.’
A month before he was sacked, Mourinho named Rashford, along with Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw and Jesse Lingard, as players who ‘lack maturity’, describing the group as ‘boys with great potential but who still are lacking.’