New era underway at Real Madrid as second Mourinho term commences

José Mourinho is back at Valdebebas for the second time with the new Real Madrid head coach only able to count on eight first-team players currently given the World Cup activity.

Monday morning saw the return of the players with medical evaluations preceding the first training session in the afternoon with a series of Real Madrid Castilla players invited to compliment the group.

Lunin, Trent, Huijsen, Asencio, Carreras, Camavinga, Mastantuono and Gonzalo are the current first teamers available with the bulk of the squad still enjoying their holidays after participating at the World Cup.

After the players comply with media responsibilities, after lunch, the Setubal native will hold the first training session at 5:00 p.m (local time).

A helping hand from Castilla

The lack of first team regulars offers a window of opportunity for the youth-team players who have been drafted in to reinforce the group. The Castilla regulars were supposed to return to training later this week and it will be an opportunity for these players to try catch the eye of the Portuguese coach.

Staggered returns

As the weeks go by, players will join the group gradually. Valverde and Güler will be the first to reappear with the Turkish and Uruguayan set to start training next Monday. Rüdiger, Dumfries, Vinicius, Endrick and Bernardo Silva are expected to commence with Madrid the following week (July 27th).

As the weeks progress, the likes of Courtois and Brahim will return although a confirmed date has yet to be established for the likes of semi-finalists Konaté, Tchouameni, Mbappé, Cucurella and Bellingham. Their absence has seen the league opener against Real Sociedad postponed and they will miss the friendly in Austria on August 1 (against Fiorentina).

With “positivity”

Mourinho himself accepts the situation relating to his squad stating: “We must make the most of the next two weeks with positivity, because I would like to have all the players here. But here we are... and some world champions will arrive.”

Real Madrid have also confirmed a friendly game away to newly promoted Deportivo la Coruña at the Estadio Riazor on August 12th.

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