José Mourinho has signalled that the immediate focus is still on preparation—insisting that “next week, the real work begins” as Real Madrid step deeper into the rhythm of pre-season and squad building. The line, carried by Managing Madrid, frames the coming days as a crucial transition point: from early planning and recruitment adjustments to the more demanding phase of training, selection, and tactical refinement.
Speaking in a context that blends on-field work with off-field decisions, Mourinho has also described his preferred squad model as a compact group rather than an oversized roster. According to reporting that draws on his comments to Real Madrid TV after a friendly win, he is aiming for something close to 20 positions—an approach that, in his view, allows the team to stay focused, cohesive, and prepared for the intensity of the season. In that same framing, he pointed to several players who are unavailable due to injury, noting that he does not expect them to return in the coming weeks.
The comments came after Real Madrid’s 2-1 friendly victory over Hungarian side Ferencvaros in Budapest on Saturday, with Mourinho addressing the situation following the match. Bernardo Silva, identified as Real Madrid’s only midfield signing of the summer in the available reporting, featured in his analysis of what the team needs to function efficiently in a short-squad framework. The underlying message was that new additions are judged less by quantity and more by fit—especially versatility and the ability to cover multiple roles when squads are kept lean.
In Mourinho’s view, the team’s ideal is not simply to have specialist starters, but to include players who can rotate without losing structure. That logic was highlighted in the same report: he discussed the need for a left-footed centre-back and the value of a player who can mirror the tactical flexibility that Bernardo Silva provides, including an ability to operate across different positions. Such criteria point to a manager trying to balance defensive security with tactical adaptability—an approach associated with his broader coaching philosophy.
Madrid’s recruitment picture, however, is not portrayed as an open-ended pursuit of more signings. Senior sources cited in the available reporting say the club’s priority now is to generate departures rather than add to the squad, suggesting that Mourinho’s compact-squad goal is driving internal strategy. The same account indicates that Real would only consider further arrivals if an exceptional opportunity appeared—one deemed impossible to turn down—rather than adding out of momentum or necessity.
That stance is also reflected in the uncertainty around additional midfield investment. Despite Mourinho’s remarks about how the squad should be built, the reporting states Madrid are not currently planning another midfield signing. Instead, attention appears to be turning inward, with Thiago Pitarch—an academy graduate who impressed last term—described as an internal solution for the depth questions that can arise when a team commits to fewer roster slots.
While Mourinho insists the immediate work begins next week, the club has already been active in the market. Outside the specific quotations about squad sizing, other reporting in the dataset confirms multiple arrivals during the window: Real Madrid have signed Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, and Carlos Espí. Together, these deals suggest a recruitment drive aimed at strengthening the squad across several areas, even as Mourinho argues for keeping the total number of usable roles under tight control.
The atmosphere around the new group is also visible in how senior players speak about the changes. Jude Bellingham, speaking about his feelings heading into the new campaign, said he feels “more mature” and with “more experience,” and he expressed confidence that the club’s signings and the coach will create a strong basis for the season. In that same communication, he framed playing for Real Madrid as an honour and a privilege, while also indicating hope that it will last for many more years.
Earlier reporting about Mourinho’s influence reinforces that the summer’s recruitment has not been managed purely at a distance. In the available accounts, Mourinho is described as heavily involved in the market and having more influence than previous Madrid coaches, implying that the manager’s preferences—particularly around squad size and player versatility—have carried real weight in decision-making.
As pre-season continues, Managing Madrid also reports that Mourinho is assembling his squad with key personnel arriving at Valdebebas on Monday. That includes references to the arrival of Vinícius, Brahim, and Bernardo at the training base as the week of preparation intensifies. The signalled start of the “real work” next week therefore sits within a broader sequence: match preparation already under way, recruitment adjustments completed or nearing completion, and the emphasis shifting toward training intensity and role definition.
In that sense, Mourinho’s message is both motivational and managerial. It sets expectations that the next phase will demand sharper focus—less about experimentation and more about turning a newly assembled group into a working team with clear responsibilities. With a short squad target, injury absences noted, and club sources prioritising departures over further additions, Real Madrid appear to be aligning recruitment, availability, and tactical planning into one coherent push toward the season’s demands.
For fans, the coming week will be the moment the project becomes tangible: clearer lineups, more structured sessions, and a squad shaped by Mourinho’s insistence on efficiency. For the club, the same period will test whether the tight-roster plan can deliver the flexibility and reliability required at the highest level. And for Mourinho himself, it is a reminder that the “real work” begins after the first flurries of preparation—when the training ground becomes the arena where his squad philosophy is proven.
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