Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfield talent handed golden opportunity to impress Mourinho in pre-season
Every setback creates a new opportunity, and Thiago Pitarch’s injury has opened the door for Jorge Cestero to take centre stage during Real Madrid’s pre-season.
Pitarch had been expected to act as the extra midfield option while several senior players remained away following the World Cup.
However, after suffering an injury that will keep him out throughout pre-season and into the opening weeks of the campaign, that role has now fallen to the 20-year-old Castilla midfielder, reports AS.
Mourinho wants a defensive midfielder
Cestero offers a different profile from many of Real Madrid’s other young midfielders. A natural holding midfielder, the young prospect is a classic No. 6 capable of shielding the defence and controlling possession from deep.
With Eduardo Camavinga’s situation still uncertain and Dani Ceballos no longer part of the squad, Mourinho has included him among the 15 academy players training with the first team while the World Cup internationals gradually return.
The Portuguese coach already knows Cestero is one of the academy players most familiar with the demands of the senior environment.
Cestero has steadily climbed through the ranks over the past year. He made five appearances under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, including his senior debut in the Copa del Rey against Talavera and a UEFA Champions League match against Benfica in Lisbon.
During a difficult period for the team, both coaches turned to him as one of the most dependable performers coming through La Fabrica.
He also played an important role in the Juvenil A squad that won their second UEFA Youth League title.
A chance to impress
Real Madrid see Cestero as one of the players capable of leading Castilla into the 2026-27 season given the imminent departure of several established academy figures, including Cesar Palacios and Manuel Angel.
Now, however, he has an even bigger opportunity.
With Aurelien Tchouameni not expected to return until later in August, Cestero has the chance to compete directly with Camavinga during pre-season and show Mourinho that he can contribute at first-team level.
For the young midfielder, it is the biggest audition of his career.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho does not want Real Madrid new signing to be affected by price tag, will continue slow integration
Real Madrid had an explosive summer transfer window with as many as six new big signings coming through to strengthen the first-team squad, while Sergio Martinez was also roped in with an eye on the future.
Up until Friday, things were going well for Jose Mourinho & co., but the 1-0 loss to Real Betis has put the team under the scanner once again.
Questions are being asked, in particular, of the club’s most explosive signing, Yan Diomande.
Mourinho not changing plans with Diomande
However, according to journalist Alvaro Esteban, Mourinho will continue with the plan of integrating Diomande slowly into the team.
The Real Madrid boss does not want the 19-year-old winger to be negatively affected by his massive price tag this summer and the pressure generated because of it.
After all, Los Blancos shelled out an enormous €125 million plus €15 million in add-ons to sign Diomande from RB Leipzig.
Should all the variables be met, he will become the most expensive signing in Real Madrid history. And, naturally, such a price tag brings with it a great deal of pressure.
As such, Mourinho wants to make sure that the Ivory Coast international is not affected in any way by the talk around his price tag and will continue to ease him into the team without rushing things.
Only a handful of minutes for Diomande
So far, Real Madrid have played four La Liga games this season and Diomande has not started even one of them.
Instead, Mourinho has opted to field Arda Guler on the right wing in three matches while Brahim Diaz started in the remaining one.
As for Diomande, he has come on as a substitute in each of the four games, but has only racked up a total of 83 minutes, without scoring or assisting a goal so far.
But, his limited minutes and slow integration are seemingly a part of Mourinho’s plans who is intent on not overexposing the teenage winger and put him under undue pressure due to the expectations that come with his price tag.
