World Cup Disrupts Real Madrid's Preparations... Mourinho Starts the Season with a Shortened Squad

Real Madrid is preparing for the start of the new season's preparation period on July 13, with medical examinations before starting training in the city of Valdebebas. However, the participation of a large number of its players in the World Cup has imposed an exceptional reality on the team's preparations, which has caused dissatisfaction for coach José Mourinho.

The Spanish newspaper 'Sport' explained that Mourinho will begin the preparation period in the absence of 15 players participating with their national teams in the World Cup, and only 14 players will be under his leadership, including seven whose future with the team is not yet decided: Eduardo Camavinga, Gonzalo, Raul Asensio, Dani Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Franco Mastantonuno, and Thiago.

The newspaper added that the players guaranteed to continue with Real Madrid are Alexander Arnold, Andriy Lunin, Alvaro Carreras, Ferland Mendy, Dean Haussen, along with Eder Militao and Rodrygo. However, the Brazilian duo will continue their rehabilitation program and will not participate in group training at the start of the preparation period.

The newspaper pointed out that Mourinho expressed his desire for his international players to return quickly, saying: 'I want their teams to lose,' indicating the impact of the World Cup on the team's preparations, especially since the players participating in the tournament will join Real Madrid gradually after the end of their national teams' journeys.

'Sport' also explained that Arda Guler will be the first to return to Real Madrid after his exit from the World Cup, as he will receive a three-week vacation before joining the team. Meanwhile, players who reach the final match will join later, until early August, due to their scheduled annual vacation after the end of the tournament.

Real Madrid includes 15 players participating in the World Cup: Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, Ibrahima Konate, Vinicius Junior, Endrick, Marc Cucurella, Thibaut Courtois, Antonio Rudiger, Brahim Diaz, Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, Nico Paz, Federico Valverde, and Arda Guler, which poses a significant challenge to the technical staff before the start of the new season.