The last few months have brought some of the most significant changes seen at Real Madrid in years. The headline move is the departure of Álvaro Arbeloa, who took over as head coach for the second half of last season, and the arrival of José Mourinho to replace him on the touchline. The Portuguese has brought his own staff with him, and a broader overhaul of the coaching setup has followed.
A reshaped squad
Four new signings are already through the door: Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté, and Bernardo Silva, with more additions possible before the window closes. Going the other way: Fran García, Dani Ceballos, David Alaba, and Dani Carvajal have all left the club.
Carvajal’s exit carries the most weight of the four. He was Real Madrid’s first captain last season, and his departure leaves a genuine leadership gap in a dressing room that’s already had a difficult year.
The new captaincy
Mourinho has settled the succession. Federico Valverde becomes Real Madrid’s first captain, with Vinícius Júnior as second, Thibaut Courtois third, and Rodrygo fourth.
It’s a promotion Valverde has spoken about wanting for years, and one that follows the club’s tradition of handing the armband to its most senior first-team player — he’s about to enter his ninth consecutive season with the senior squad. Vinícius moves ahead of Courtois in the pecking order despite arriving the same summer, reportedly because the club’s internal seniority rules now factor in the requirement for outfield captains to communicate directly with referees.
Two members of the new leadership group won’t be immediately visible on the pitch. Courtois is still recovering from an injury picked up in the World Cup quarter-final against Spain, while Rodrygo is further behind, working his way back from a ruptured ACL and lateral meniscus in his right knee.
Two captains under real pressure
Valverde and Vinícius both spent last season under scrutiny, with the pair widely blamed for Xabi Alonso’s exit. Valverde’s year got worse before it got better: a training-ground confrontation with Aurélien Tchouaméni left him needing hospital treatment and both players fined, and speculation swirled over whether he’d lose the armband entirely — or even be sold. Mourinho has ruled both out, calling Valverde untouchable and planning a private conversation to help him reset before the season starts. Tchouaméni, meanwhile, could still be moved on this summer if the right circumstances arise.
Valverde’s World Cup with Uruguay didn’t help matters — the team went out at the group stage, well below expectations, adding to the pressure he’ll carry into pre-season with his starting spot no longer guaranteed to be automatic.
RMxtra Verdict
Mourinho has moved quickly to draw a line under last season’s chaos, backing Valverde publicly while quietly building a leadership group built for the long term. With two of his four captains sidelined by injury to start the season, the early weeks will fall heavily on Valverde and Vinícius to set the tone — the same two players whose form and temperament were most in question just months ago. Whether they respond to Mourinho’s faith the way Real Madrid need them to may end up shaping how quickly this new era gets off the ground.
