Fiorentina push for Valdepeñas signing, but Mourinho wants him to stay at Real Madrid

Fiorentina have stepped up their pursuit of Real Madrid defender Victor Valdepeñas, with Sky Italia reporting the Serie A side are in pole position to land the young Spaniard. The Viola see Valdepeñas as an ideal addition to their backline and are prepared to offer him consistent first-team minutes — something that might be harder to come by at the Santiago Bernabéu. Talks are advancing, and the Italian club is working hard to finalize the deal soon. However, Real Madrid boss José Mourinho remains a key obstacle. The Portuguese coach is a known admirer of the academy product and is reportedly considering stepping in personally to keep him within the club’s structure. Valdepeñas made his senior debut for Los Blancos last season, starting in a La Liga Round 16 clash against Alavés, which Madrid won 2-1. The 19-year-old is under contract until the summer of 2029, and Transfermarkt values him at €5 million.