José Mourinho Unveils His First Squad to Begin a New Era at Real Madrid
José Mourinho has announced his first squad as Real Madrid head coach for the preseason friendly against Fiorentina. Carlos Espí, Denzel Dumfries and Endrick headline a selection that offers the first glimpse of the club's new project.
José Mourinho Unveils His First Squad at Real Madrid
Real Madrid officially begins a new chapter under José Mourinho. After several weeks of preseason preparations at Valdebebas, the Portuguese manager announced his first squad for the friendly against Fiorentina, which will take place in Klagenfurt, Austria, and mark the club's first match of the 2026-27 preseason.
The squad consists of 21 players and reflects the current state of the team: established stars who have already returned from vacation, young talents looking for an opportunity, and several new signings eager to impress the manager from their very first minutes in the famous white shirt.
Although several international players are still expected to rejoin the squad following their participation in the World Cup, this selection offers the first glimpse of the project Mourinho aims to build. Every preseason friendly will be an opportunity to evaluate different options, assess the performances of the new arrivals, and begin shaping the team ahead of a season filled with high expectations.
Carlos Espí, Dumfries and Endrick Headline the New Faces
One of the names drawing the most attention is Carlos Espí, who has only recently completed his first training sessions with the senior squad but has already earned José Mourinho's trust to travel with the team to Austria.
The young striker could make his first appearance for Real Madrid, an important opportunity to begin showcasing his potential in a squad where competition for playing time will be fierce throughout the season.
Joining him is Denzel Dumfries, one of the club's biggest signings of the summer. The Dutch full-back is now fully integrated into the squad and is expected to make his debut in a Madrid shirt during this preseason fixture.
The return of Endrick is another notable development. The Brazilian is back in contention after recently rejoining training and will be one of the players to watch throughout preseason as he looks to establish himself in the Portuguese manager's plans.
The squad also features key players such as Federico Valverde, Arda Güler, and Eduardo Camavinga.
The Fiorentina Friendly Will Be the First Test of the New Project
The match against Fiorentina will provide the first opportunity to see the footballing philosophy José Mourinho intends to implement and how the club's new signings begin to fit into the team's overall structure.
After several weeks focused on physical conditioning and tactical preparation, the coaching staff will finally have the chance to evaluate the team's performances in a competitive environment. In addition, several academy players will look to make the most of their opportunities as they continue fighting for a place in the first team.
The starting lineup, substitutions, and individual performances will all offer valuable clues about the decisions Mourinho could make as preseason progresses.

A Squad That Begins Shaping Real Madrid's Immediate Future
José Mourinho's first squad selection provides an early indication of the priorities he has for this new chapter. The combination of experienced players, promising youngsters, and new signings shows the Portuguese coach is determined to evaluate every available option before settling on his strongest starting XI.
Among the players not included in the squad are several internationals who are still enjoying their post-World Cup vacation, along with others who remain sidelined as they continue their recovery process or deal with specific situations related to the club's preseason planning.













