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Real Madrid News Mourinho’s pre-season hints reveal potential Real Madrid starting XI for 2026/27 season Jose Mourinho has had an excellent pre-season upon his return to Real Madrid, managing to instil numerous ideas over the past few weeks. The Portuguese tactician has been excellently backed by the board, who have brought him as many as six signings to add to the squad’s firepower. Jose might have recovered his first-team stars in batches due to the World Cup, but it does feel like he has a fair idea of how his team will look going forward. According to AS, Mourinho appears to have settled on the broad structure of his Real Madrid side ahead of the new season, with the 4-2-3-1 formation emerging as the clear base system. Several positions remain open, particularly in central defence, right-back and the double pivot. However, further forward, the four pick themselves. Four attacking places look settled The clearest part of the XI is the attack. Yan Diomande is expected to start on the right, Vinicius Junior from the left, Jude Bellingham as the No. 10 and Kylian Mbappe through the middle. That quartet has not yet started together, largely because Diomande, Bellingham and Mbappe only joined pre-season late. Still, Mourinho’s intentions appear obvious. Bellingham will operate behind Mbappe, while Vinicius and Diomande provide width and direct running from the flanks. Double pivot still up for grabs The biggest uncertainty is behind them. Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva and Aurelien Tchouameni are considered the leading candidates for the two midfield spots, with Eduardo Camavinga currently viewed more as an alternative. Valverde’s energy and leadership make him difficult to leave out, while Bernardo has already impressed as a deeper organiser. Tchouameni has not yet featured because of a muscular overload, but his defensive profile could become important once he is fully fit. Defence remains less settled Marc Cucurella is expected to become the first-choice left-back once fully integrated. On the right, Mourinho has alternated between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries. Trent offers greater playmaking quality, while Dumfries provides more physicality and attacking power. At centre-back, Dean Huijsen, Ibrahima Konate and Antonio Rudiger are currently competing for two places, while Eder Militao and Raul Asencio remain unavailable. Huijsen appears particularly well positioned after featuring heavily during pre-season. A starting XI takes shape Based on initial indications and pre-season performances, Jose Mourinho’s starting XI ahead of the La Liga opener against Espanyol is slowly taking shape. Thibaut Courtois looks set to start in goal and will do so as long as he is fit. Trent could get the nod ahead of Denzel Dumfries at right-back, although that is a 50-50 call. Huijsen, Konate and Marc Cucurella could complete the back line, with Rudiger likely to rotate with the Frenchman for minutes. Bernardo Silva and Federico Valverde should get the nod as the double pivot, at least initially, until further options emerge. Meanwhile, the front four is set in stone. Not long is left before Jose Mourinho’s era officially begins, and it remains to be seen how the XI looks against Espanyol. Real Madrid News Real Madrid offered €45 million for Barcelona-bound superstar – report Once it emerged that Rodri would not be signing a new contract at Manchester City, it quickly became clear that he wanted to return to Spain and preferably play for Real Madrid. Los Blancos and Florentino Perez were initially apprehensive about making a move before deciding to go in and sign the midfielder. However, simultaneously, Barcelona also positioned themselves to sign the Spaniard following Frenkie de Jong’s injury. Eventually, Hansi Flick and the Spanish stars at Barça managed to convince Rodri to play for the Catalans, with the 30-year-old rejecting Madrid. Now, according to Juanfe Sanz Perez on El Chiringuito TV, Madrid actually made a bid and put €45 million on the table for the 30-year-old midfielder. Madrid made their move for Rodri Madrid’s interest in Rodri was more than simply exploratory. The club were prepared to make a significant financial commitment to bring the Spain international to the Santiago Bernabeu. Rodri’s quality and experience made him an obvious candidate to strengthen a midfield undergoing considerable change under Jose Mourinho. However, the pursuit ultimately went nowhere, with the midfielder deciding that Barcelona would be his preferred destination. The reported €45 million offer is particularly interesting given Manchester City’s demands for the player and the eventual fee Barça paid to sign him. It seems like a classic case of Madrid testing the waters with a bid just to see what kind of demands the English club were placing. Rodri ultimately preferred Barcelona Madrid’s failure to land Rodri was not simply about finances. The midfielder is said to have received similar financial proposals from both Spanish giants, but it is the sporting project that tipped the scales in the Catalan club’s favour. Despite the fact that he is the exact profile Madrid’s midfield is lacking, Real Madrid did not really go into the negotiations with much conviction. Barça, on the other hand, had a clear role outlined for him, with Flick entrusting him as a leader in an otherwise very young dressing room. Rodri would have offered Mourinho an experienced controller capable of immediately becoming an important part of the midfield, but it was not to be. Madrid might not have gone for him at any cost There is another side to the story, however. Real Madrid’s willingness to offer €45 million does not mean the club were prepared to enter an open-ended bidding war for a player who has already turned 30. Rodri is unquestionably an elite midfielder, but Madrid also have to consider the age profile of their squad and the long-term value of major investments. Once Barcelona became the player’s clear preference and Manchester City’s valuation remained considerably higher, continuing to push the operation would have become increasingly difficult. Ultimately, it was a transfer deal that was not meant to be, and Madrid will be hoping to get the better of him when they face him in the Clasico later this season.