Real Madrid tackles squad overhaul and UEFA list constraints under Mourinho

José Mourinho returned to the helm of Real Madrid and immediately set out to reshape the squad. The club has already completed the sign‑ons of Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella, while also extending Antonio Rüdiger’s contract. Mourinho’s transfer list includes targets such as centre‑back Alessandro Bastoni, midfielder Enzo Fernández and a classic striker, as well as continued monitoring of Ruben Dias and other options for the left‑back position.

A major complication stems from UEFA’s squad‑registration rules, which limit the number of players that can be listed without the home‑grown tag. With several key members – Carvajal, Asencio, Fran García, Ceballos and Gonzalo – likely to leave, the club faces a dilemma between meeting the UEFA quota and executing Mourinho’s desired squad clean‑up.

Mourinho also sparked headlines with a tongue‑in‑cheek comment that he hopes Real Madrid players lose at the 2026 World Cup so they can return on holiday and be fully rested for the new season. Meanwhile, the previous campaign ended with Real finishing second in La Liga, eight points behind Barcelona, after a turbulent season marked by a January coaching change, dressing‑room unrest and a trophy‑less finish.