Real Madrid Welcome Back Stars and Unveil Record Signing Diomandé
José Mourinho’s squad list for Real Madrid’s final pre-season friendly in Germany comes with a jolt of energy and a few sharp reminders of reality.
On one side: Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois are all back. On the other: Endrick stays in Madrid, Aurélien Tchouaméni is out injured, and the long-term absentees still crowd the treatment room.
In between those two poles sits Yan Diomandé, the club’s most expensive signing in history, finally stepping into the light.
Diomandé’s first steps in white
The Ivorian defender has made the list for the trip to face Schalke and is expected to pull on the Real Madrid shirt for the first time. For a club that has seen every type of superstar walk through the door, the fee attached to Diomandé’s name guarantees scrutiny from the first touch.
This isn’t just a gentle introduction. Schalke offer the first real glimpse of how quickly he can mesh with a back line still in flux and a dressing room packed with heavyweights. His defensive timing will be under the microscope, but so will his attacking instincts.
There’s genuine curiosity about how his forward surges and passing range might dovetail with the firepower ahead of him, especially with the possibility of sharing the pitch with Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior. If he steps out from the back and breaks lines, the transition from theory to reality will be immediate.
Mbappé returns, Endrick held back
Mbappé’s name on the squad sheet is another headline. This will be his first friendly of the summer, a key step after re-entering Mourinho’s plans in time for the new campaign. His presence alone changes the tone of the match: the runs in behind, the threat on the counter, the way opponents instinctively drop five yards deeper.
Endrick, by contrast, does not travel. The Brazilian stays in Madrid, where the technical staff have placed him on a tailored programme designed to protect him from early-season injuries. It’s a cautious call, and a clear sign of how carefully the club intend to manage his adaptation.
Tchouaméni also misses out, sidelined by a severe thigh muscle strain. He joins a familiar group of long-term absentees: Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy and Raúl Asencio all remain unavailable, reminders that the squad is still carrying scars before a competitive ball has even been kicked.
Mourinho’s last rehearsal before Espanyol
Strip away the “friendly” label and the Schalke match looks very different. This is Real Madrid’s final dress rehearsal before their official opener against Espanyol on 22 August, and Mourinho knows it.
He wants minutes in the legs, but not just any minutes. This is about rhythm, structure and clarity. About deciding which ideas survive pre-season and which get dropped before the serious business begins.
The back line is at the heart of that debate. With Militão out, the contest to partner Dean Huijsen has intensified. Ibrahima Konaté has muscled his way into contention and now stands as a direct rival for that centre-back spot. Every duel, every recovery run in Germany could tilt the balance.
On the flanks, the right-back battle refuses to settle. Trent Alexander-Arnold brings his trademark delivery and playmaking from deep, but Denzel Dumfries has forced his way into Mourinho’s thoughts with a strong start since arriving. Schalke offers another live audition: one game, two very different profiles, one place in the XI for Espanyol.
Marc Cucurella also travels, adding another layer of intrigue to the defensive puzzle. His energy and aggression give Mourinho options if he wants to tweak the shape or push a full-back higher.
So this is where Real Madrid stand: stars returning, record signings stepping forward, key injuries lingering, and a coach using one last night in Germany to lock in his first big decisions of the season. The names are there. The talent is there. Now Mourinho has 90 minutes to decide who he really trusts when Espanyol come calling.
