Jose Mourinho has named his first competitive Real Madrid squad since returning to the club, selecting six summer signings for Saturday’s La Liga opener against Espanyol while leaving Endrick and Aurélien Tchouameni out because of fitness concerns.
The squad announcement, made on Friday after Madrid’s final training session at Valdebebas, marks the beginning of Mourinho’s second spell in charge and provides the clearest indication yet of how he intends to shape the club’s new era.
Real Madrid begin the domestic season under pressure after consecutive campaigns without major silverware, prompting the club to bring Mourinho back 13 years after his departure. The Portuguese coach insisted, however, that anticipation rather than anxiety has defined the atmosphere inside the squad ahead of the trip to Barcelona.
“We are tired of playing friendlies,” Mourinho said during his pre-match press conference. “We are all eager to jump right back into competitive football.”
New arrivals make the cut
Among the most notable inclusions are new recruits Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Yan Diomande and striker Carlos Espí, all of whom are available to make their competitive debuts for the Spanish champions.
The squad also features established stars including Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, giving Mourinho an almost full-strength group for his opening fixture.
Three academy graduates, Mario Rivas, Cestero and Alexis Ciria, have also earned places after impressing throughout preseason, reflecting Mourinho’s willingness to reward performances regardless of age.
Endrick and Tchouameni unavailable
The headline absences are Brazilian forward Endrick and French midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni.
Endrick has been ruled out after sustaining a minor muscle injury during preseason, while Tchouameni has returned to group training but has not yet completed enough work to be considered ready for competitive action. Mourinho described the decision as precautionary rather than long term, with Madrid facing three league matches within eight days.
Long-term absentees Rodrygo, Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy also remain unavailable as they continue their recoveries from injuries suffered last season.
Mourinho sets demanding standards
Although much of Friday’s attention centred on the squad list, Mourinho used his first official pre-match media appearance to outline the standards he expects from his players.
The 63-year-old said commitment and collective responsibility would outweigh individual status, warning that disappointment over selection decisions must be answered through improved performances rather than frustration.
He also dismissed concerns about integrating a star-studded attack featuring Mbappé, Vinícius and Bellingham, arguing that Real Madrid’s tactical system would serve the team rather than revolve around any one player.
Mourinho confirmed that previous dressing-room tensions involving Tchouameni and Valverde have been treated as historical matters, adding that every player began the season with a clean slate.
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What the squad reveals
The selection suggests Mourinho is likely to retain the 4-2-3-1 structure used extensively during preseason, with Bellingham and Arda Güler competing for advanced midfield responsibilities behind Mbappé and Vinícius. Konaté and Cucurella appear strong candidates to enter the defensive line immediately, while Dumfries provides experienced competition on the right flank.
Perhaps the biggest statement is the inclusion of three academy players alongside multiple high-profile signings. Mourinho has frequently spoken about keeping “the door open” for young footballers who demonstrate the required level, and his first official squad appears to reinforce that message.
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Real Madrid face an Espanyol side that opened its campaign with an impressive victory and will hope to spoil Mourinho’s competitive return. For Madrid, the fixture represents more than three points. It is the first meaningful test of a project built to restore the club to trophy-winning form after two disappointing seasons.
