Portuguese manager José Mourinho has finalized his stance on several Real Madrid stars ahead of the 2026–27 season, having drawn up a list of five players he considers the cornerstone of his project, confirming that they are not up for discussion regarding a potential departure during the summer transfer window.
According to media reports, Mourinho has informed the Real Madrid management of his firm commitment to Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Arda Güler, and Bernardo Silva, considering this quintet the backbone of the team for the upcoming season.
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The Portuguese coach continues to evaluate the rest of the squad before finalizing his plans, both in terms of the players he will rely on and those likely to leave. However, these five are now beyond the scope of any negotiations or potential offers.
This decision is part of Mourinho’s plan to rebuild Real Madrid and compete strongly in all competitions following his return to the club, as he seeks to establish a stable core he can rely on from the start of the season.
In terms of reinforcements, Real Madrid strengthened their squad during the summer transfer window by signing Marc Cucurella for €55 million and Denzel Dumfries for €20 million, in addition to acquiring Ibrahima Konaté and Bernardo Silva on free transfers.
Real Madrid are scheduled to begin their La Liga campaign against Espanyol on August 22, following a number of preseason friendlies aimed at reaching peak fitness before the start of the official competitions.
Mourinho hopes that this core group will provide the foundation for Real Madrid’s return to competing for domestic and continental titles, relying on a blend of experience and technical quality across all positions.
