As José Mourinho puts the final touches on his tactical preparation at Valdebebas for Real Madrid’s competitive debut against Espanyol on Saturday, August 22, six squad members remain unable to complete full group sessions.
According to updates from Real Madrid insider Arancha Rodríguez, the medical department continues to manage a mix of long-term surgical rehabilitation programs and recent pre-season muscular setbacks.
Breakdown of the 6 Individual Training Cases
The medical room at Valdebebas is currently split between long-term recovery cases and shorter pre-season setbacks:
| Player | Injury Type | Estimated Recovery / Status |
| Endrick | Muscular Discomfort | Late Fitness Test: Most likely to make the traveling squad for Espanyol. |
| Thiago Pitarch | Knee Ligament Sprain | Early September 2026: Finalizing light grass work. |
| Raúl Asencio | Muscular Injury | Mid-September 2026: Continuing recovery program. |
| Éder Militão | Hamstring Surgery | September 2026: Progressing with on-pitch ball work. |
| Ferland Mendy | Rectus Femoris Tendon | Late 2026: Long-term post-surgery rehab. |
| Rodrygo Goes | ACL & Meniscus Tear | Early 2027: Joint stabilization and indoor gym program. |
Matchday 1 Outlook: Endrick’s Race Against Time
Of the six players working away from the main group, Endrick is the only one with a realistic chance of making Mourinho’s squad for the trip to the RCDE Stadium. The Brazilian forward is pushing through a tailored physical program to be cleared for the bench, providing essential attacking depth behind Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior.
Meanwhile, midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni has successfully completed his transition back into main training following minor muscular issues, giving Mourinho a vital defensive anchor alongside new signing Ibrahima Konaté.
The RMxtra Verdict
Dealing with injuries before the first whistle of La Liga is never ideal, but the summer additions of Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, and Bernardo Silva give Mourinho the depth required to navigate these early absences smoothly. Getting Endrick cleared for the bench will be a welcome bonus for the trip to Catalonia.