Real Madrid pre-season tracker: Endrick on target as Blancos held by Fiorentina, Jose Mourinho rebuild takes shape
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Updated 01/08/2026 at 22:32 GMT+1
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Real Madrid have already been very busy this summer, with Jose Mourinho returning to the club and Los Blancos seeking to instil discipline and a winning mentality following a trophyless 2025/26 season.
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The target remains to reel in La Liga champions Barcelona, but the primary objective - as ever - is to add a 16th UEFA Champions League to the cabinet.
Mourinho returned as Alvaro Arbeloa's replacement, and described his second coming to Real Madrid as more than just another managerial challenge, framing the role as a responsibility to help the club and its people improve.
At his unveiling, the Portuguese coach said: "It's not about working at Real Madrid; it's about working for Real Madrid... to help everyone become better: players, staff."
The club have completed deals for Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries and Carlos Espi as they look to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts.
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'He controls everything' - Cucurella heaps praise on Golden Ball winner Rodri
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Blancos held by Viola
Endrick and Alexis Ciria were on target as Real raced into a two-goal lead but Roberto Piccoli and Moise Kean hit back as Florentina secured a 2-2 draw in a friendly in Austria on Saturday.
Carlos Espi was handed a debut by Mourinho, while fellow new signing Denzel Dumfries played 75 minutes.
Mourinho expects Vinicius Junior, subject of transfer speculation, to return to training on Monday.
”I’m concerned about not having everyone, and I would like to have three weeks of work with the others," Mourinho said of those still absent due to the World Cup. "It’s not possible.
"On Monday, Vini Junior, Brahim [Diaz], and Bernardo will arrive. Dumfries, Carlos, and Endrick will already have a few more days of work. Little by little, until the boys who played in the World Cup semi-finals and final arrive, with the final being only [Marc] Cucurella.”
Real Madrid pre-season fixtures and results
| Match | Date and time |
| Real Madrid 4-1 Leganes | Tuesday, July 28, 17:00, Ciudad Real Madrid Campo 7 |
| Real Madrid 2-2 Fiorentina | Saturday, August 1, 17:00, Worthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria |
| Real Madrid v Ferencvaros | Saturday, August 8, 19:00, Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary |
| Deportivo La Coruna v Real Madrid | Wednesday, August 12, 20:00, Estadio Abanca-Riazor, A Coruna, Spain |
Real Madrid pre-season squad
Goalkeepers: Andriy Lunin
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Raul Asencio, Alvaro Carreras, Antonio Rudiger, Denzel Dumfries
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, Franco Mastantuono, Fede Valverde
Forwards: Gonzalo Garcia, Carlos Espi
The rest of the squad who participated in the World Cup will continue to reintegrate over the upcoming weeks as preparations for the new season continue.
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What have the players said?
Trent Alexander-Arnold has embraced the intensity of Madrid's pre-season preparations, admitting the demanding opening sessions at Valdebebas have been exactly what he expected as the squad prepares for the upcoming campaign.
"So far, so good. It’s hot and very intense. We're in preseason, and that's what we expected," the 27-year-old said. "There are a lot of tough sessions, a lot of double sessions, so it's been intense so far."
The former Liverpool full-back said he used his summer break to rebuild his fitness before returning to training, adding: "Now, in preseason, you have to come back in shape. So I was ready and really looking forward to returning."
Alexander-Arnold also expressed his excitement at working under Mourinho following the Portuguese coach's return to the Bernabeu, praising the standards and expectations he has brought to the club.
"With Mourinho? Very good, very good. I’ve always admired the coach. I've played against him a couple of times, and it’s a pleasure to work with him and his team," he said.
"He's intense. The principles and the level of expectation are very high, so I'm looking forward to seeing how, the more we get to know each other, the more we learn and the more he can teach us. I'm sure he'll teach us a lot and help us win trophies this year.”
New signings watch
Following the culmination of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Madrid are expected to accelerate their recruitment drive - with reports resurfacing that Rodri is next on Mourinho's wishlist.
In Euro Transfer News, it was reported that president Florentino Perez could stand in the way of the player's "dream" move to the Spanish capital, with only one year remaining on his City contract.
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