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Jose Mourinho has finalized the captaincy hierarchy at Real Madrid following the departure of Dani Carvajal. Federico Valverde will assume the role of captain, with Vinicius Junior appointed as vice-captain. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois takes the third spot, while Rodrygo rounds out the leadership quartet in fourth place.
Meanwhile, striker Gonzalo Garcia has returned to full fitness and is in contention to start in Real Madrid’s upcoming pre-season fixture against Fiorentina on August 1. With the absence of Endrick and Kylian Mbappe during the early stages of preparation, Mourinho is considering Garcia as a traditional No. 9 option to lead the attack.
Dressing Room Insights and Contract Developments
A recent dressing-room video has provided a glimpse into the squad’s numbers: Endrick appears to be assigned the number 9, positioned between Mbappe’s 10 and Valverde’s 8. Other notable numbers include Konate with 4, Marc Cucurella wearing 2, Bernardo Silva 19, and Denzel Dumfries 20.
In the transfer realm, Ola Olise has expressed his desire to remain at Bayern Munich, a club that currently considers him indispensable despite links to Real Madrid. Discussions over a new contract accompanied by a salary increase are expected to follow.
Meanwhile, pundit Pablo Espinosa has recommended that Real Madrid contemplate selling midfielder Eduardo Camavinga to Newcastle United for a fee in the region of €50-60 million, citing the club’s midfield requirements. However, no official contact has been reported, and Camavinga himself is keen to stay with Madrid.
Renewal talks are underway for several key players, with Thibaut Courtois poised to extend his contract until 2028. Additionally, discussions are progressing with Jude Bellingham, Valverde, and Mbappe. Contracts for Aurélien Tchouameni and Brahim Diaz have already been agreed upon. However, negotiations with Vinicius Jr. have reportedly stalled due to his demands.
In preparation for the season, Mourinho has called up 16 academy players for the pre-season squad, including talents such as Palacios, Cestero, Fran Gonzalez, and Victor Valdepeñas. This move signals a renewed emphasis on La Fábrica, Real Madrid’s famed youth academy, echoing Mourinho’s previous tenure when he facilitated 20 first-team debuts.
Among the newcomers, Marc Cucurella has made a mark not only on the pitch but also in the dressing room, where he has promised a tattoo tribute to Luis de…
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