Real Madrid News
Mourinho to speak to several Real Madrid stars next week; could lead to departures – report
Jose Mourinho’s first week of pre-season at Real Madrid could be important for several players whose futures remain uncertain.
The Portuguese coach is expected to evaluate the squad closely before making decisions on who fits into his plans.
According to Ruben Martin of AS, Mourinho will hold conversations with several players after assessing them during the opening days of pre-season. He will then explain the role and future vision he has for each of them.
Mourinho begins his squad audit
This is exactly the kind of process Real Madrid fans would expect from Mourinho. He is not a coach who leaves hierarchy unclear for long.
Players usually know quickly where they stand, and that clarity can shape the rest of the transfer window.
That does not mean exits are already decided, but it does suggest that the first days of work may influence which players stay and which ones look for opportunities elsewhere.
Real Madrid need clarity before the season
For Real Madrid, this is an important stage of the summer. A strong squad still needs balance, and Mourinho will want players who accept his demands, understand their roles and fit the competitive level he expects.
If a player is not central to the coach’s plans, it is better to know now than late in the window, when finding a solution becomes harder.
Florentino Perez and the sporting leadership will also benefit from Mourinho’s direct assessment.
An overcrowded first-team squad means exits are not optional this summer, and it is fair that the manager has a good look before making a decision.
What this also means is that Los Blancos players have a chance to impress Mourinho in the first week of pre-season and convince him that they can have a future here.
The first week of pre-season will not decide everything, but it could set the tone. Some players may be spending their last few weeks in a Real Madrid jersey, while others might get a lifeline.
It remains to be seen how the manager goes about handling this situation during pre-season.
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
