José Mourinho has named his first official squad of his second spell at Real Madrid, ready for the La Liga opener against Espanyol. Injuries have forced several players out, but the Portuguese has handed three academy talents their chance.
Real Madrid host Espanyol tomorrow, Saturday evening, in the second round of the competition. Brazilian Endrick and Frenchman Aurélien Tchouaméni both miss out, while the young trio of Mario Rivas, Cestero and Alexis Ceria make the cut after impressing the coach in pre-season.
Endrick and Tchouaméni out of the reckoning
Endrick misses the match with a minor muscle injury. The technical staff have chosen not to risk the Brazilian striker so early in the season.
Tchouaméni, meanwhile, has already returned to group training, but Mourinho would rather bide his time given the midfielder is not fully ready for a competitive game.
"He is fine, but he arrived suffering from some discomfort, and he has only trained a little with the first team," said the Portuguese coach.
A packed calendar has also shaped the decision. Real Madrid face three league matches in eight days, so the staff are treating those returning from injury with caution.
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Three talents earn Mourinho's trust
The biggest surprise in the squad is the call-up of Mario Rivas, Cestero and Alexis Ceria. The trio won Mourinho over during a pre-season in which injuries repeatedly pushed him to lean on "La Fábrica" products.
Mourinho had already promised the first team would open its doors to young talents. He has followed through by naming the three for the trip to Espanyol.
Rivas, Cestero and Ceria look set to start on the bench at the Cornellà. They become among the first academy names to earn a chance under Mourinho's new project at Real Madrid.
"The door is open," Mourinho said during his press conference, a nod to the academy players hoping to stake a claim with the first team.
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Real Madrid's full squad
The full squad included:
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Mestre.
Defenders: Huijsen, Arnold, Konaté, Cucurella, Carreras, Rüdiger, Dumfries, Mario Rivas.
Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva, Cestero, Alexis Ceria.
Forwards: Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé, Espí, Brahim Díaz, Yan Diomandé.