Real Madrid are expected to line up with a revamped and star-studded starting XI next season, with the anticipated arrival of Ivory Coast forward Yaya Diomande set to trigger a series of high-profile selection calls by head coach Jose Mourinho, according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo.
The report claims Diomande’s move, which has yet to be officially confirmed by the club, will strengthen Real Madrid’s attacking options and could lead to “big surprises” in Mourinho’s preferred line-up, despite intense competition for places across the pitch.
Mundo Deportivo suggests that Thibaut Courtois is in line to retain his status as first-choice goalkeeper, with Andriy Lunin remaining the Belgian’s main understudy.
Surprise omissions in defence
In defence, new signing Marc Cucurella is tipped to start at left-back, with Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao forming the central defensive partnership. Denzel Dumfries is expected to be deployed at right-back.
That projected back four would represent a significant early setback for another summer arrival, Ibrahima Konate. Despite the scale of his transfer and his top-level experience, the centre-back is reported to be behind Rudiger and Militao in Mourinho’s hierarchy and could initially miss out on a place in the starting XI.
Midfield competition leaves big name on the bench
In midfield, Mourinho is expected to opt for a double pivot of Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni in holding roles, with Jude Bellingham operating ahead of them as the main playmaker.
The same report indicates that Bernardo Silva, one of the most high-profile creative players in the squad, may have to settle for a place on the bench at the start of the season despite his reputation and extensive experience at the highest level.
Diomande to join Mbappe and Vinicius in attack
The forward line outlined by Mundo Deportivo would see Vinicius Junior keep his place on the left wing, while Diomande is expected to slot in on the right. Kylian Mbappe is projected to lead the attack as the central striker.
If Mourinho adopts this structure, several major names could find themselves outside the first-choice line-up. The article highlights Trent Alexander-Arnold as one of the most notable potential casualties, despite the England international initially being viewed as a key component of Real Madrid’s new project.
Rodrygo is also mentioned as a player whose future remains uncertain, with no guarantees about his role or status in the squad under Mourinho’s leadership.
Big decisions looming for Mourinho
Bernardo Silva and Konate are both expected to face fierce competition to break into the starting XI, as Mourinho looks ready to make uncompromising selections in order to achieve balance across his team.
The projected line-up reported by Mundo Deportivo is:
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois.
Defence: Marc Cucurella, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Denzel Dumfries.
Midfield: Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham.
Attack: Vinicius Junior, Yaya Diomande, Kylian Mbappe.
According to the Spanish outlet, these choices underline Mourinho’s willingness to take bold decisions and leave high-profile signings on the bench if he believes it will deliver greater stability and clarity to Real Madrid’s starting XI in the coming season.
