MADRID (EFE).– Real Madrid took the first step this Friday of the second era of José Mourinho at the helm of the club, with the start of preseason planning at the Valdebebas Sports City, where the Portuguese coach held his first work meetings with his coaching staff.
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The white team began preparations for the 2026-27 campaign with a reduced squad due to the absence of several players who are still competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Mourinho will meet his players again next Monday, when the available group will undergo the usual medical examinations before starting training. The coach also shared the beginning of this new stage on his social media with a photograph from Valdebebas accompanied by a brief message: “Let’s go”.
The challenge of returning Madrid to the top
Thirteen years after his departure from the club, Mourinho returns with the mission of returning Real Madrid to the path of titles, after two consecutive seasons without winning any trophies.
In his first spell as Real Madrid coach (2010-2013), the Portuguese manager returned the team to the European elite, winning a Spanish League title, a Copa del Rey, and a Spanish Super Cup, in addition to reaching three consecutive Champions League semifinals, in an era marked by his intense rivalry with Lionel Messi’s Barcelona.
To face the new project, the club has already reinforced its squad with the additions of Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté and Bernardo Silva, while Dani Ceballos and Fran García have left the institution.
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Several stars remain in the World Cup
The new signings and several of the squad’s main figures will not be present at the start of the preseason. Footballers such as Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni remain focused with their respective national teams in the 2026 World Cup.
The return to training will mark Mourinho’s first contact with a group of players looking to leave behind a disappointing season and return Real Madrid to prominence both in Spain and in Europe.
