According to a report by the programme El Larguero, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has begun shaping his starting lineup for the new season, identifying six players who are considered undisputed starters.
Among the footballers who have earned the Portuguese coach’s full confidence are Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Yan Diomande, Marc Cucurella and Thibaut Courtois. Despite his strong performances last season and in recent pre-season matches, Arda Guler appears set to begin the season behind Bellingham in Mourinho’s hierarchy for the No. 10 position.
Meanwhile, there is expected to be strong competition for the right-back position between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries. Fierce competition is also expected in central defence, where Dean Huijsen, Ibrahima Konate and Antonio Rudiger will battle for a place in the starting lineup.
In midfield, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga are competing for the two deeper midfield positions in Mourinho’s system.
Real Madrid will begin the new La Liga season on Saturday when they face Espanyol in their opening league match.
