New head coach Jose Mourinho has been working with a largely overlooked squad during his initial pre-season back at Real Madrid.
The Portuguese manager has heavily relied on players from the Castilla team to fill the ranks during pre-season, with Alexis Ciria standing out among them.
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According to Defensa Central, Mourinho is expected to have nearly his complete Real Madrid squad available starting August 10, as many of the club’s key figures return from their post-World Cup break.
Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Ibrahima Konate are all set to return to Valdebebas on Monday, while Marc Cucurella is expected to join shortly thereafter.
Mourinho Finally Assembles His Squad
Mourinho is on the verge of having a fully strengthened Real Madrid squad. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
The timing is crucial as Madrid enters the final phase of pre-season.
New signee Yan Diomande and injured goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois have been training individually at the facility while awaiting the rest of the squad’s arrival from Hungary.
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This means Mourinho will finally be able to train almost the entire squad together rather than having to piece it together from various players.
Mbappe, Bellingham, Tchouameni, and Konate are expected to undergo medical evaluations before fully rejoining training.
Cucurella, who had an extended summer following Spain’s World Cup victory, is also anticipated to complete a medical and join the team later this week.
Their return should provide Mourinho with better insights ahead of the remaining friendlies against Deportivo La Coruna and Schalke 04, both of which are crucial tests before the league season kicks off.
Pre-Season Competition about to Heat Up
Until now, Mourinho has been forced to experiment extensively due to the unavailability of many first-team players.
Mourinho is eager to have his new signings readily available. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
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This situation has allowed academy players to step up and enabled the coach to try different formations, but now that senior international players are returning, the real competition for starting spots kicks off.
Stars like Bellingham, Mbappe, and Tchouameni are expected to play pivotal roles, while Cucurella and Konate will further strengthen a squad that has seen significant changes this summer.
The report also emphasizes that Mourinho plans to establish clear standards once the full squad is assembled.
Discipline, structure, and commitment are expected to be at the forefront of his strategy, both on and off the field.
This week is particularly vital as Real Madrid transitions from the experimental phase of pre-season preparations.
It’s time to set the stage for the real competition to begin, and Mourinho hopes to integrate the returning stars as soon as possible.