Coach Jose Mourinho has begun to outline the features of the new Real Madrid, after revealing his desire to rely on a small list of only about 20 players, despite the abundance of options within the team
The Portuguese coach's comments came after Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Hungarian side Ferencváros, in the team's second tough test during their preseason preparations.
The newspaper "Marca" highlighted the situation of Real Madrid's squad, especially after the Rodri deal fell through, given that the team has a large number of players capable of playing in more than one position, which makes the competition fierce among the players.
In defense, Konate's arrival has increased the pressure on Asensio, while the midfield roster includes Tchouaméni, Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Camavinga and Thiago Petrács.
In midfield, the competition appears fiercer, with Tchouaméni, Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Camavinga and Thiago Petrács all in the squad, while the starting lineup cannot accommodate everyone at the same time.
In attack, there are multiple options with Vinicius, Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz, Diomande and Indric. In the playmaking position, Bellingham and Arda Guler stand out, while Kylian Mbappe remains the most important attacking card in Mourinho's calculations, along with other options that can give the coach different solutions
But Mourinho's desire to reduce the squad means that some big names may have to leave or settle for a secondary role, especially since it is not possible to give everyone enough minutes.
Injuries remain a factor that could change the coach's calculations, as Real Madrid have already suffered several absences during the preseason, including Hoesen, Asensio and Thiago, in addition to Militao, Mendy and Rodrygo.
But Mourinho is also aware that reducing the squad carries a significant risk.
The season is long, and Real Madrid is competing on several fronts, while recent years have proven that injuries can hit the team at any moment, which could turn a list of 20 players into a real problem if the number of absentees increases.
