Mourinho identifies six-man core for Real Madrid rebuild

José Mourinho has wasted no time stamping his authority on his second coming at Real Madrid. According to a report from Diario AS, the Portuguese manager has already identified six players who are guaranteed to be undisputed starters for the 2026-27 season.

The chosen six are: Thibaut Courtois (goalkeeper), Marc Cucurella (left-back), Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham (midfield), and Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior (attack).

Mourinho, who signed a three-year deal in June after Real Madrid paid Benfica €15 million in compensation, returns to a club that has endured two consecutive trophyless seasons. The 63-year-old has been granted significant freedom over transfer decisions, with club president Florentino Pérez tasking him with restoring order in a fractured dressing room and bringing silverware back to the Bernabéu.

The Backbone

Courtois remains the undisputed No. 1 despite being at the twilight of his career. In defence, Cucurella – signed from Chelsea for an initial €55 million this summer – is set to replace Álvaro Carreras as first-choice left-back. The Spaniard impressed Mourinho with his World Cup performances.

In midfield, Bellingham will operate in an advanced attacking role, as he has for England at the World Cup, while Valverde will anchor the midfield from a deeper position.

Up front, Mbappé and Vinícius Jr. are assured of starting roles at centre-forward and left-wing respectively – though how Mourinho will balance the two superstars, along with Bellingham, will be one of the season’s most intriguing subplots.

Five Spots Still Up for Grabs

The six core players leave five starting positions – right-back, both centre-back spots, defensive midfield, and right wing – where competition will be fierce.

New signings Denzel Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold are vying for right-back, while Ibrahima Konaté joins Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, Dean Huijsen, and Raúl Asencio in the centre-back battle. In midfield, Bernardo Silva, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Eduardo Camavinga will compete for the remaining spots.

Pre-Season Complications

Mourinho faces a significant challenge: most of his core players will miss pre-season due to World Cup commitments. Valverde will be the first to return following Uruguay’s group-stage exit, while Vinícius and the Brazilian contingent are expected back by late July. Courtois, whose Belgium reached the quarter-finals, will return a week later. Mbappé, Bellingham and Cucurella, however, will only rejoin just before the new season.

Mourinho’s second stint at Real Madrid – 13 years after his first, which yielded a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup – begins with the squad returning for pre-season training on 13 July. Real Madrid open their La Liga campaign against Espanyol on 22 August.

For the “Special One,” the mission is clear: restore glory to a club that has grown accustomed to winning – and do it with a core he trusts from day one.