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Real Madrid News Jose Mourinho reveals how Real Madrid youngster gave him a black eye: ‘Hit me with a ball’ Jose Mourinho gave Real Madrid fans something unexpected to talk about during the club’s final pre-season match against Schalke, with a noticeable black mark below his right eye immediately catching the attention of photographers. When the Real Madrid manager arrived at the Veltins-Arena, the bruise around his eye was impossible to miss. Images of Mourinho quickly raised questions about what had happened, especially with the team preparing for its final test before the start of the competitive season. As it turns out, there was no dramatic story behind the injury. What happened to Mourinho? As explained by the manager himself, he had simply been involved in an accident during one of Real Madrid’s final training sessions before travelling to Germany. 💥 Mourinho aparece en el Veltins Arena… ¡con un ojo morado! pic.twitter.com/Kop56W5e44 — Diario AS (@diarioas) August 16, 2026 A ball struck him while he was wearing glasses, leaving him with the visible bruise that became one of the more unusual talking points around the Schalke match. Mourinho has now explained exactly what happened during an interview with El Chiringuito TV. When jokingly asked whether he had stepped in to break up another supposed clash involving Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde, Mourinho was quick to dismiss the suggestion. “No… A poor kid, La Costa, hit me with a ball, and I was wearing glasses. But that’s not why he wasn’t in the squad in the last match (laughs).” New signings make first Real Madrid appearances Beyond the unusual attention surrounding Mourinho, the match against Schalke marked an important step for several members of the Real Madrid squad. The likes of Ibrahima Konate, Yan Diomande and Marc Cucurella all made their first appearances in a Real Madrid shirt, giving fans an early look at three of the club’s new additions. Meanwhile, established stars such as Thibaut Courtois, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe also continued building their fitness as Mourinho prepares his side for the start of the new campaign. The Schalke game therefore served its purpose beyond the final result. Mourinho was able to assess his new players in match conditions while gradually bringing some of his most important names closer to full match fitness. Real Madrid News Jose Mourinho unsure about Real Madrid captain’s role ahead of new season – report Real Madrid may be closing in on the start of the 2026/27 campaign, but one major question remains unresolved at Valdebebas: where exactly does Federico Valverde fit into José Mourinho’s plans? Los Blancos are preparing for their La Liga opener against Espanyol after a strong pre-season preparation. The Real Madrid squad has also been strengthened by six new signings, giving Mourinho more options across the pitch and increasing competition for places. Yet, according to Defensa Central, that growing depth has created uncertainty around the role of one of the club’s most important players. Indeed, Valverde has been a key figure for Real Madrid for years, but Carlos Carpio claims Mourinho is still not fully convinced about the position in which the Uruguayan should play. The journalist explained, “From what I’m told, it’s not clear where he’s going to play. I don’t see him at the heart of the play, just as I didn’t last year. “He doesn’t have those qualities. I’m told that Mourinho doesn’t see him on the right wing – we’ll have to wait and see what happens,” he explained. Mourinho does not see Valverde as a midfielder or winger The reported uncertainty is particularly interesting given Valverde’s importance within the Real Madrid squad. The Uruguayan has operated in central midfield during the pre-season, gradually moving away from the right side of the pitch. However, the aforementioned report suggests Mourinho may not view him as the player capable of controlling the heart of the team. That does not necessarily mean Valverde is set to lose his place. Instead, the issue appears to be about finding the right tactical role for him. Furthermore, Mourinho is also unconvinced about using Valverde on the right wing, a position the midfielder has occupied regularly in the past. Right-back is another option, but Valverde has his doubts There is, of course, another position Valverde knows well. The Uruguayan has previously been deployed as a right-back when Real Madrid needed extra cover. However, it is known that Valverde does not feel fully comfortable playing at right-back. That issue contributed to some of his first disagreements with Xabi Alonso last season. Moreover, Real Madrid now have two strong candidates for the right-back role in Denzel Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold, so it makes no sense for Valverde to be used there. Valverde’s versatility has always been one of his greatest strengths, but it can also create a difficult tactical problem. A player capable of operating in midfield, on the right wing and at full-back gives any manager several options. Yet Mourinho may now need to decide whether Valverde should have one clearly defined role rather than continuing to move around depending on the team’s needs.