La Liga giants Real Madrid are closing on an agreement to part with an up-and-coming member of the club's ranks in the middle of the park.
This comes amid the understanding that César Palacios is inching towards a move to the Premier League, with Fulham.
Palacios, for his part, is a 21-year-old midfielder, whose name will likely be familiar to those of a Real Madrid persuasion. The starlet spent much of last season in and around the first-team setup at Valdebebas, culminating in six senior appearances between La Liga and the Champions League.
And his efforts, both at academy level and under the bright lights of the Bernabéu, evidently proved enough to impress one of Palacios' former managers.
It was recently confirmed in the Spanish media that Álvaro Arbeloa, after being named new head coach of Fulham, was eyeing a reunion with his compatriot in England.

#palacios #madrid #premier

Denzel Dumfries has officially begun life as a Real Madrid player, taking part in his first training session at Valdebebas before sharing his initial impressions with Real Madrid TV.
The Dutch international, who arrived this summer to strengthen José Mourinho's squad, expressed his excitement about getting started after returning from his post-season break and admitted he has already been impressed by the club's world-class training complex.
"After the first training session I feel great, the start has gone very well. After the holidays I'm happy to get going. It's an honor to be here. The facilities are incredible. Very big. You can get lost very quickly. They're helping me figure out where everything is."
Dumfries also spoke about the welcome he has received since arriving in Madrid. While several first-team players are still away following the World Cup, the defender said everyone currently at Valdebebas has made him feel at home.
"They've welcomed me very well. Several are still on vacation for the World Cup, but those who are here have given me a great reception: the coaching staff, the manager… I've felt very welcome. We have a great team and a great manager. It's great to work with them and learn from them."

#session

The new coaching staff at La Liga giants Real Madrid have been left taken aback by the efforts of one member of the club's midfield ranks across pre-season to date.
The Blancos star in question? Arda Güler.
Midfielder Arda for his part returned to base in Spain's capital to report for pre-season training earlier this week. Afforded an extra week of rest following his exploits with his native Türkiye at the World Cup, the 21-year-old took his place under the watch of José Mourinho for the first time.
And safe to say, Arda has since gone on to make his presence very much felt at Valdebebas… As per a report from Diario AS, the engine room starlet has returned full of intent and vigour with a view to the campaign ahead:
'The coaching staff is surprised. Arda Güler has returned from his vacation not only eager to impress, but also in excellent physical condition. So much so that some key members of the team didn't hesitate to openly praise him: "Güler is flying!" was heard at Valdebebas.'

#arda #valdebebas #Coaching #liga

The midfielder Arda Guler was one of the very few Real Madrid players who avoided any meaningful criticism, despite being a regular starter, for the failure of the last season. He remained a key player for both Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, and the highest point of his season came in the second leg of the quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich, in which his two goals kick-started the Merengues’ comeback, although they ultimately fell short of achieving its objective.
Guler also participated in the World Cup with Turkiye where he also impressed, but his team was eliminated in the group stage. As a result, he returned to Valdebebas before any other World Cup player, last Monday.
According to Diario AS, the sessions over these five days have been enough for the Turk to impress his new coach, Jose Mourinho, and his staff. He has returned from holidays in excellent physical condition and mentally driven to continue playing an important role at Real Madrid. Some members of the coaching staff can be heard saying: “Güler is flying!”
The midfielder will find increased competition for his starting spot going into the next season. Bernardo Silva has been one of the major bets made by the Merengue club this summer, and he will compete directly with Guler for the attacking midfield spot. Meanwhile, Endrick’s ability to play on the right wing also means more competition in this position for the Turk.
However, he has the advantage of already being in Mourinho’s good books. The Portuguese manager wanted to have him in his team when he joined Turkish side Fenerbahce, and later had a meeting with the player in Istanbul.

#real #World #midfielder

Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid has brought a noticeable change to the training ground, with players already adapting to the high standards and intensity expected by the Portuguese coach.
According to Guillermo Rai in The Athletic, the atmosphere at Valdebebas has been described as “overwhelmingly positive” since Mourinho began work, with the manager combining demanding training sessions with a hands-on approach that has impressed those around the first team.
Despite inheriting a depleted squad because of the FIFA World Cup, Mourinho has wasted little time implementing his methods as he prepares Real Madrid for the new campaign.
Mourinho took charge of his first training session on July 13, but preparations began under unusual circumstances.
As many as 14 first-team players were absent after representing their countries at the World Cup, forcing the new manager to work with a squad made up of available senior players and several academy prospects.

#training #first #began

It has already been two weeks since Jose Mourinho returned to Real Madrid, and more than ten days since the start of preseason training at Valdebebas. During this time, the Portuguese coach has had to work without most of his first team players, but he has been able to make a good ***** sment of the players who have been training under him.
In fact, some recent reports suggest that he has also made decisions about the future of some of these players. For instance, he has already let the defender Raul Asencio know that he is not part of his plans, and thus, should start looking for a new club.
Meanwhile, the forward Franco Mastantuono has been another player for whose departure the coach has reportedly given the green light. However, according to a report from MARCA, the Argentine has also been one of the players who has impressed the new coach the most since the start of preseason training, and although the possibility of a departure remains, the youngster knows he can still earn a place in the squad.
Two of Mourinho’s predecessors on the Real Madrid bench, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, both gave several opportunities to Mastantuono to shine and lock down a place in the starting eleven. However, he was unable to take advantage of these opportunities, and lost prominence after a few games under both managers.
For now, Mourinho understands that he will have to restore the player’s confidence and to make him feel comfortable if he is to continue at the Merengue club. Meanwhile, Real Madrid are also considering loaning him out, as they did with Endrick last season, to allow him to adapt to European football in a lower-pressure environment, and several clubs from the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga are interested.

#players #training #meanwhile #mastantuono

Real Madrid's new captain, Federico Valverde, shared his thoughts on new manager Jose Mourinho on Wednesday. Valverde returned to training after Uruguay had a disappointing first-round elimination at the World Cup.
"I'm eager to learn from Mourinho, to try and listen to every piece of advice he gives me. To get the most out of every second, every minute of training I get to share with him and his coaching staff," said Valverde.
"I'm going to try to learn and grow as a footballer and as a person. I think he's a special person from whom I can learn a lot."
Real Madrid are currently hosting double sessions under Jose Mourinho at Valdebebas. It's been an intense start to the pre-season as Mourinho wants all players in top shape. Real Madrid have a series of pre-season friendlies lined up. Valverde will soon get the chance to demonstrate his level to Mourinho.

#real #madrid #training #season

Federico Valverde has officially returned to Real Madrid’s pre-season preparations after enjoying 24 days of vacation, becoming the latest World Cup international to rejoin José Mourinho’s squad.
Following Arda Guler, who reported back on Monday, the Uruguayan midfielder is the second returning international to resume training at Valdebebas.
Valverde began the day by completing his routine medical examinations, receiving clearance before taking part in his first training session under Mourinho.
His return increases the number of available first-team players to ten, although the squad continues to rely heavily on academy players while the remaining internationals complete their holidays.
Uruguay’s disappointing World Cup campaign ended in the group stage after draws against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, along with a defeat to Spain.

#mourinho #first #federico #real

Real Madrid's pre-season preparations are gathering pace, with Jose Mourinho set to get a significant opportunity to **** s his squad before the club begins its schedule of summer friendlies.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez, Madrid will face Leganes in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Valdebebas on Tuesday, July 28.
The match will not be open to the general public or the media, but it will form an important part of Mourinho's preparations ahead of the new campaign.
The fixture comes just over two weeks after Real Madrid began pre-season training on July 13, with players returning in phases following their involvement at the FIFA World Cup.
The match in question will be a meeting with Leganes, which is expected to provide Mourinho with valuable minutes for players still building match fitness after staggered returns to training.

Real Madrid approach every summer under a spotlight bright enough to illuminate every corridor of Valdebebas, every whisper in the boardroom, every tactical preference of the coach. This window already carries that familiar sense of theatre, yet the mood around the Bernabeu feels particularly instructive. There is movement, there is patience, and there is a clear idea emerging of what the club believe the current squad can yet become.
According to The Athletic, the biggest immediate development has been the departure of Fran Garcia, with Real Betis set to pay close to €4million and Madrid retaining a 50 per cent sell-on clause. It is tidy business, practical rather than dramatic, and significant chiefly because it continues a process of reshaping around the fringes of the first-team group.
The report notes that Fran Garcia is the fourth departure since the end of last season, following the exits of Dani Carvajal, David Alaba and Dani Ceballos. That matters because Madrid's summer, at least so far, has been defined less by flamboyant recruitment and more by recalibration. At a club where expectation often demands a marquee storyline, this is a more deliberate piece of squad management.
Photo IMAGO
At the heart of that strategy lies one of the clearest statements of intent in the entire piece, "midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, 26, signed a new contract until 2031." In a market that can lure clubs into unnecessary restlessness, that renewal feels substantial. Tchouameni is not simply retained, he is reaffirmed. He represents physical authority, positional intelligence and a degree of midfield control that elite sides still require when knock-out football tightens and games become contests of nerve as much as imagination.

Real Madrid began their pre-season under new manager Jose Mourinho this Monday, with the players undergoing medical examinations and taking part in their first training session.
Preparations continued today at Valdebebas as the Portuguese tactician continues to work with the handful of first-team players at his disposal, along with a number of young talents from the academy.
As things stand, Real Madrid have officially announced only two pre-season friendly matches for this summer: one against Fiorentina in Austria, and another vs newly-promoted La Liga club Deportivo La Coruna.
Now, according to BILD in Germany, Real Madrid could add another pre-season friendly fixture to their calendar against Schalke.
According to the report, the newly-promoted Bundesliga side is planning a high-profile friendly against Real Madrid at the Veltins Arena, with the match provisionally scheduled for August 16.

There was plenty of curiosity surrounding Jose Mourinho’s first day back at Real Madrid, but for Dean Huijsen, the occasion felt a little different.
While many members of the squad were working under the Portuguese coach for the first time, the young centre-back was reunited with a manager he already knows well from their time together at Roma.
That previous connection meant Huijsen walked into pre-season with a clearer understanding of what Mourinho expects, and, perhaps more importantly, the person behind the demanding public image.
As Real Madrid officially kicked off preparations for the 2026/27 campaign at Valdebebas, Huijsen took time to greet supporters before briefly speaking to the media.
Mourinho’s training sessions have carried a reputation for intensity, discipline and attention to detail.

An up-and-coming member of the midfield ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid was a surprise inclusion in first-team training on Monday.
Los Blancos, for those not aware, got their preparations for the new campaign up and running earlier today.
With the José Mourinho era now in full effect in Spain's capital, the club's senior players not called upon for international duty at the World Cup were summoned to Valdebebas for pre-season training.
Alongside the likes of Dean Huijsen, Eduardo Camavinga and Trent Alexander-Arnold, though, were a host of academy talents, too.
Short on numbers for the session, Mourinho and his staff drafted in some of the most highly-regarded youngsters currently making their way through La Fábrica.

Real Madrid have been handed a significant boost after concerns over Thibaut Courtois’ injury were eased following medical examinations at Valdebebas.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez, the Belgian goalkeeper has not suffered a serious injury, with tests ruling out any major damage after the problem he picked up during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The update will come as welcome news for Jose Mourinho and the Real Madrid coaching staff, who were anxiously awaiting the results after Courtois returned to the club’s training complex.
Rather than facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, the experienced goalkeeper is now expected to complete his scheduled holiday before rejoining the squad for pre-season preparations.
Questions over Thibaut Courtois’ fitness emerged during Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to Spain.

Real Madrid injury news is focused on Thibaut Courtois after the Belgian goalkeeper returned to Valdebebas following Belgium’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reports Alvaro Esteban.
The journalist reports that while the experienced shot-stopper has now rejoined the club, how serious Thibaut Courtois’ injury is remains unknown until Real Madrid complete a full medical ******* sment.
The aforementioned information comes after Courtois suffered an injury during Belgium’s 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Spain.
The goalkeeper went down holding the upper outside of his left thigh before being forced off, bringing an abrupt end to both his evening and Belgium’s hopes of progressing further in the tournament.
Courtois left the field in tears. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Despite signing no less than three new defenders this summer, Real Madrid's new coach, Jose Mourinho, remains keen on signing yet another new centre-back.
To that end, the club have been closely linked with a move for Aymeric Laporte in the past, but the club never entertained the opportunity.
But now, following his brilliant performances at the World Cup, Laporte has once again appeared on Real Madrid's radar.
Laporte has been superb in this World Cup. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
According to Defensa Central, Laporte has been offered to Real Madrid through intermediaries, but those at Valdebebas are not particularly enthused by the prospect of signing him.

The French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is one of the players with his future at Real Madrid highly uncertain. He has not been able to meet the expectations that the Merengue club had put on him when they signed him as a highly promising youngster from Rennes, and the club believes his growth has stunted in the last few years.
In fact, he was directly at fault as Los Blancos saw their UEFA Champions League hopes end last season. The Frenchman's haggling with the ball for a couple of seconds after a whistle caused the referee to shown him a second yellow card in the quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich, which made it impossible for Real Madrid to compete in a highly demanding game.
As a result, he has been put on the market by the Madrid club, but the new coach Jose Mourinho would make a final decision about him. Meanwhile, the player looks committed to impress the new coach and continue at the Merengue club.
As SPORT has reported, citing the journalist Alvaro Esteban, a clear indication of this was his presence at Valdebebas on Friday, the same day as Mourinho visited the club facilities in the first day of his second stint as the Los Blancos' manager. Thus, the Frenchman returned to train at the club a few days before the team is set to begin its preseason training, i.e., on Monday, 13th July.
The French midfielder also enjoys quite a lot of demand in the market. Big clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool have all been closely watching him lately.

Jose Mourinho's arrival at Real Madrid brings changes to the group of professionals working around the first team, extending beyond the Portuguese coach's trusted inner circle.
Mourinho began working at Valdebebas alongside his coaching staff today. It includes his right-hand man at Benfica, Joao Tralhao, as one of the ******* istant coaches.
Meanwhile, former Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has also joined the Portuguese tactician's staff as an ******* istant.
On top of that, Mourinho has stuck with his trusted staff of Roberto Merella (Performance ******* yst), Pedro Machado (Fitness coach), and Nuno Santos (Goalkeeping coach).
Now, as reported by MARCA, the arrivals of Pedro Machado and Nuno Santos lead to adjustments within the club's technical structure.

Jose Mourinho is eagerly awaiting the return of all of his Real Madrid players for pre-season. But, according to MARCA, there is one player in particular he is especially keen to see: Federico Valverde.
The Portuguese coach has decided to personally handle a situation that has become a growing concern within the club. Even after the World Cup, the tension surrounding the midfielder has not disappeared.
Real Madrid had hoped that Valverde's time away from Valdebebas following a difficult season, one that culminated with the incident involving Aurelien Tchouameni, would allow emotions to cool.
Instead, the Uruguayan became embroiled in further controversy during the World Cup with his national team, meaning the scrutiny surrounding him has continued throughout what has arguably been the most difficult campaign of his career.
Since June 27, when Uruguay were eliminated from the World Cup after losing to Spain in the group stage, Valverde has been on vacation. The break has provided an opportunity to disconnect and recharge before returning to Madrid.

Real Madrid have struggled to blood products from La Fabrica into the senior team over recent years, but they have become highly successful in selling them on to other top clubs in Europe. The production line at Valdebebas is operating successfully, and has now become a regular visit for scouts.
The success stories of Nico Paz, Rafa Marin, Chema Andres and Jacobo Ramon have alerted many clubs to the possibility of getting a talented youngster on the cheap, due to Los Blancos policy of selling low and then retaining a sell-on fee. Como, who signed both Paz and Ramon, in particular have taken an interest. The next to depart could be Victor Valdepenas, who made his debut under Xabi Alonso in December at left-back.
Valdepenas, who can at left-back or centre-back, is blessed with plenty of pace, and was attracting interest even last summer before his senior debut. As reported by Gianluca di Marzio, and carried by MD, Serie A side Bologna are interested in signing him. At 19, and with three years left on his contract, it would be no surprise to see Real Madrid cash in on Valdepenas, who already has plenty of experience with Castilla, and is probably ready for the jump up in level. Unless Jose Mourinho makes it clear he will use Valdepenas, he may also want more chances.
Valdepenas is unlikely to be short of options this summer though, with a number of big clubs having previously enquired about him. Last summer Borussia Dortmund held talks with Valdepenas, and for a significant portion of this season, ******* nal have been said to be following his progress. Valdepenas may well have a pick of destinations.

Real Madrid’s pre-season will begin on July 13 with medical examinations at Valdebebas before Jose Mourinho officially starts work with his squad.
While players involved in the World Cup will return in stages depending on their international commitments, the Portuguese manager already has several key decisions in mind.
Among the most important are the futures of some of the club’s brightest young talents like Gonzalo Garcia, Franco Mastantuono and Thiago Pitarch.
Mourinho intends to evaluate all players during pre-season before deciding whether they should remain with the first team or spend the season on loan to continue their development.
Now, according to AS, Thiago’s priority is to convince Mourinho that he deserves a place in the first-team squad and stay at Real Madrid.

Real Madrid’s search for a new centre-back remains active, and Nico Schlotterbeck continues to feature prominently on the club’s shortlist despite suffering an injury that could delay any potential move.
The Borussia Dortmund defender has long been admired within Valdebebas, with Real Madrid viewing him as one of the strongest options available to reinforce a backline that has endured significant problems in recent months.
While an ankle injury sustained during the FIFA World Cup has complicated matters, it has not removed Schlotterbeck from the club’s transfer plans.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid are still monitoring the German international closely as they weigh up their options in the centre-back market.
Finding another high-level defender remains one of Real Madrid’s priorities this summer, particularly after a season in which injuries exposed the squad’s lack of depth in central defence.