Real Madrid appeared set to fulfill one of José Mourinho's key wishes to strengthen the back line, but Manchester City intervened decisively, delivering an early shock to the Spanish giants, a situation that may force them to completely change their transfer market course.

Real Madrid had identified several options to bolster its defense next season, foremost among them Manchester City star Rúben Dias.

According to TeamTalk, City rejected Real Madrid's inquiries about signing the Portuguese defender, informing the Spanish club that the 29-year-old is not for sale.

City also conveyed the same stance to Chelsea and Barcelona, which made similar offers last month, per the same source.

Dias renewed his contract with Manchester City in August 2025, tying him until summer 2029, after joining from Benfica in September 2020 for a total fee of £65 million.

The Portuguese defender has been a key player since his arrival, playing a pivotal role in City's Premier League and Champions League triumphs.

The same site said: 'After City's outright rejection, Real Madrid has turned to other defensive options, according to Spanish reports, including Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni and Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck.'

This comes amid the technical change at the Etihad with Guardiola's departure and the arrival of his successor Enzo Maresca, who views Dias as a key part of the club's long-term project.

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