Mourinho will not replace Higuain

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has ruled out making any signings in the January transfer window despite the loss of Gonzalo Higuain.

Higuain has not played since suffering a herniated disc in late November, and despite the best efforts of Real’s medical team the prolific striker had surgery this week.

Reports in the Spanish media had suggested that Mourinho would look to bring in a striker on a short-term loan to cover the Argentina international’s absence, but Mourinho played down the speculation.

“The doors for transfers are still open until the end of the month,” the Real boss told reporters.

“But it seems like it will be with this group of players that we compete until the end of the season.”

“Right now I don’t want to continue hearing and reading things like, ‘in two months he will be training or playing’.”

“Let’s let Higuain recover in peace and not think about him. The hope is that he can still be useful when he comes back.”

“To be useful, we have to have ensured that we still have important games to play in May.”

Real take on Levante in the second leg of their Copa del Rey tie on Thursday, with Mourinho’s men all but assured of advancing to the quarter-finals after thumping Levante 8-0 in their home leg.

Brazilian playmaker Kaka will continue to ease himself back following knee surgery by warming the bench at Levante, while Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick in the first leg, will be rested.

“Kaka will be on the bench. After his 15 minutes against Getafe, I hope to increase his time to 20 or 25 minutes, progressively, until he can start a game,” Mourinho said.