Real Madrid News
UEFA rules behind Real Madrid starlet’s omission from Champions League squad
Real Madrid prospect Alexis Ciria will have to wait for his Champions League opportunity despite making a strong impression on Jose Mourinho during pre-season.
The Castilla winger has been left out of Real Madrid’s European squad, but the decision is the consequence of UEFA registration rules rather than a sporting judgment.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez (h/t Defensa Central), Ciria was not eligible for Madrid’s List B because he has not been with the club long enough to satisfy UEFA’s requirements.
Registering him would therefore have required Mourinho to include him on the more restrictive List A.
UEFA rules work against Ciria
List B provides clubs with additional flexibility to register young academy players, but being young enough is not sufficient on its own.
Players must also meet requirements concerning how long they have been eligible to represent the club.
Ciria does not meet those conditions because of his limited time at Valdebebas. Real Madrid would therefore have needed to sacrifice a List A position to register him.
With those places required for members of Mourinho’s senior squad, Ciria was ultimately left out.
Real Madrid’s List B instead includes youngsters such as Joan Martinez, Mario Rivas, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero and Daniel Yanez.
Many of these youngsters made a name for themselves under Mourinho during pre-season and could be used to make up the numbers in the Champions League squad.
They could also get some minutes off the bench, especially against relatively easier opposition, as Jose Mourinho looks to manage first-team minutes.
Mourinho still plans first-team opportunity
Importantly for Ciria, missing the Champions League squad does not appear to reflect a change in Mourinho’s opinion of him.
The youngster impressed during pre-season and is expected to continue spending time around the senior team.
Mourinho intends to give Ciria his official first-team debut during the season. That opportunity will now have to arrive in La Liga or the Copa del Rey.
The Portuguese tactician placed a lot of emphasis on trusting Castilla players during pre-season in the absence of first-team stars.
Ciria was one of the many names who made a name for themselves at Real Madrid during pre-season. He deserves a chance in the first team, and it remains to be seen how Jose plans his development.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid’s MVP defends Vinicius and explains his role in comeback win vs Roma: ‘What they are doing to him is unbelievable’
Endrick has delivered a passionate defence of Vinicius Jr. after a four-match suspension for the Brazilian winger sparked controversy, insisting that his teammate is being unfairly targeted.
Speaking to Movistar Plus+ after Real Madrid’s dramatic 4-3 Champions League victory over AS Roma, Endrick criticised the punishment handed to Vinicius following his sending-off against Villarreal.
The young forward also reflected on his decisive contribution to the comeback, which saw Madrid recover from 1-3 down to secure victory in the closing stages.
Endrick entered the match in the 59th minute and helped change its direction, setting up Carlos Espí’s goal with a header before scoring the equaliser.
Antonio Rudiger subsequently completed the turnaround, capping a remarkable night for Jose Mourinho’s side.
Endrick claims Vinicius is being targeted
The suspension handed to Vinicius was a major talking point after the match, with Endrick openly questioning the decision and backing his international teammate to respond positively.
“We knew it had to be two matches for a straight red card, but deep down we knew it wouldn’t be two, because what they’re doing to ‘Vini’ is unbelievable, it’s mad, and there’s no way it’s going to change.
“They’ve turned two matches into four; they’re out to get ‘Vini’, but he’s a strong lad, he’s always working hard, fighting against everything.
“He’ll be strong; when he comes back, he’ll come back in great form,” he said.
Endrick explains how he helped Real Madrid beat Roma
While his comments about Vinicius attracted attention, Endrick also played a crucial role in Madrid’s comeback.
Introduced shortly after Roma extended their lead to 3-1, the Brazilian immediately brought energy to the attack and helped the hosts regain momentum.
Reflecting on the emotions surrounding his introduction, Endrick explained how quickly his evening changed.
“I’m still caught up in the excitement of the match. It was a bit tricky – I was on the bench talking to God, and when I looked to one side, Nuno called me over.
“I didn’t think I’d be coming on so early. I came on and was able to do what I love most – play football. I feel I can help everyone, and most importantly, help Madrid win.
“When I’m no longer able to do that, I’ll be the first to leave, because being at Madrid is tough; you have to fight every day,” he explained.
Endrick POTM 🏆 #UCL https://t.co/WoPPM8TRZd
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 14, 2026
He also recalled the difficult moment when Roma scored again just as he was preparing to enter the contest.
“It was tough, because I was talking to Mou, with my head down, and when we looked up, Mallen was scoring another goal, which made the match even more difficult. But we’re Real Madrid.
“We’re going to fight in every match, and that’s what we’ve done – coming back from 3-1 to 4-3 and continuing to fight – because we’ve still got the Champions League, the Copa del Rey, La Liga and the Super Cup; we want to win them all.”
Endrick sends message about his Real Madrid future
The Brazilian also addressed his limited playing time under Mourinho, acknowledging that individual ambitions must take second place to the team’s needs.
“We don’t know; managers aren’t going to do what’s best for a player, they’re going to do what’s best for the team.
“If I have to play, Mou will put me on. It won’t necessarily be the best thing for me.
“I’ll be fighting to help the team; that’s what I’ll do throughout my entire career,” he concluded.
