Real Madrid’s summer stopped being theoretical on Monday. After weeks of transfer business, presidential politics and a World Cup run that has kept half the first team away from Valdebebas, 13 July 2026 was the day Jose Mourinho’s second spell finally became a training session rather than a plan on paper. It is a delicate balancing act: build fitness and a system with the eight or nine players available, while the rest of the dressing room is still chasing medals on the other side of the Atlantic.
The pace of the close season hasn’t let up even with half the squad absent. Ibrahima Konate completed a four-year move from Liverpool back in June, Piero Hincapie has already been the subject of a defensive enquiry, and Florentino Perez used his re-election to publicly back the Mourinho project before a ball had been kicked. So what actually happened today, who was on the grass, and when does the rest of the squad get back? Here’s the state of play.
What Happened On Real Madrid’s First Day Of Pre-Season?
Real Madrid’s 2026-27 season formally began on Monday morning, according to the club’s official website, with the players not involved in the World Cup undergoing medical check-ups at the Hospital Blua Sanitas Valdebebas and Ciudad Real Madrid before Jose Mourinho took his first training session of the summer at 17:00. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Eduardo Camavinga and Franco Mastantuono were among those out on the grass, alongside Alvaro Carreras, Andriy Lunin, Gonzalo Garcia and Raul Asencio, with Real Madrid Castilla players brought in to fill out numbers. Eder Militao, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy also attended the medical checks but remain on individual recovery programmes.
Which Real Madrid Players Are Still Away At The World Cup?
Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Thibaut Courtois are among the group still on international duty, according to Football Espana, and will rejoin the group on a staggered basis once their countries are out of the tournament. Bellingham in particular has continued to feature heavily for England, meaning Mourinho won’t have a full picture of his squad for several more weeks yet.
What Has Ibrahima Konate Said Since Joining Real Madrid?
Speaking to reporters this week, Konate admitted his move still feels surreal. “Real Madrid is the biggest club in history,” the France international said, adding that it’s “an exceptional club” and that pulling on the shirt remains “a dream,” a quote carried by Managing Madrid and beIN Sports. Konate signed his four-year contract with the club last month, and his comments fit a squad-building summer in which the club has prioritised defensive reinforcement following the club’s enquiry for Piero Hincapie.
What Are Real Madrid’s Confirmed Pre-Season Fixtures?
Two friendlies are locked in before the competitive season starts, both independently confirmed by multiple outlets including Madrid Universal and Infobae:
| Opponent | Date | Venue | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiorentina | 1 August 2026 | Worthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt (Austria) | 18:00 local |
| Deportivo La Coruna (Teresa Herrera Trophy) | 12 August 2026 | Riazor, A Coruna | 21:00 local |
How Does Day One Fit Jose Mourinho’s Wider Rebuild?
Monday was always going to be a stripped-back session by design rather than a statement of intent — a reminder of the calendar problem Mourinho inherited more than a verdict on his squad. Perez’s backing after his re-election set the political ground for this appointment, but the more meaningful judgements on Mourinho’s second Bernabeu era will only start to arrive once Bellingham, Mbappe, Vinicius and Courtois are back on the grass and the club’s transfer business — with both the entry and exit doors still described as open — is settled.
Real Madrid Pre-Season Facts: 13th July 2026
Has Real Madrid’s 2026-27 pre-season started?
Yes. As of 13 July 2026, Jose Mourinho has taken his first training session, with players not involved in the World Cup reporting for medical checks and training at Valdebebas.
Who trained under Mourinho on the first day?
As of 13 July 2026, the confirmed group includes Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Eduardo Camavinga, Franco Mastantuono, Alvaro Carreras, Andriy Lunin, Gonzalo Garcia and Raul Asencio, supplemented by Real Madrid Castilla players.
When do Bellingham and Mbappe join full training?
No return date has been confirmed as of 13 July 2026. Both remain on World Cup duty and will rejoin on a staggered basis once their teams are eliminated or the tournament concludes.
What is Real Madrid’s first pre-season friendly?
Fiorentina, on 1 August 2026 at the Worthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt, Austria, kicking off at 18:00 local time.
Has Real Madrid signed a new centre-back this summer?
Yes. Ibrahima Konate joined on a four-year contract from Liverpool in June 2026, with the club also known to have made a defensive enquiry for Piero Hincapie.
