Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has named Yan Diomande in his squad for Sunday’s friendly against Schalke in Germany, handing the Ivorian defender his first opportunity to play for the club in the final test before the new season begins.
The squad has been strengthened by the return of several key players, with Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois all included. Mark Cucurella and Ibrahima Konate are also involved for the first time in the build-up to the fixture, which will give Mourinho the chance to assess the majority of his available squad.
Diomande’s inclusion is the main focus of attention. The Ivorian is preparing to make his Real Madrid debut after becoming the most expensive signing in the club’s history. The match against Schalke will offer an early indication of how quickly he can adapt to his new team-mates and Mourinho’s tactical demands.
His attacking contribution is also expected to attract interest, particularly if he is used in a side featuring Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. The friendly will be Mbappe’s first appearance of the summer, after the France international returned to Mourinho’s plans ahead of the opening of the campaign.
Real Madrid will have to manage their resources carefully, however. Endrick has not travelled to Germany after the coaching staff decided to keep him in Madrid and place him on an individual programme designed to reduce the risk of injury. Aurelien Tchouameni is also absent because of significant fatigue in his thigh muscle.
Long-term absentees Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy and Raul Asencio remain unavailable.
The meeting with Schalke carries added importance because it is Real Madrid’s final warm-up match before their competitive season starts against Espanyol on 22 August. Mourinho intends to use the fixture to give his players further minutes, continue integrating the new arrivals and settle the broad shape of the team he will rely on at the beginning of the season.
The game could also provide a clearer indication of the defensive line Mourinho is considering for the Espanyol match. Cucurella and Konate have moved strongly into the manager’s thinking during pre-season, with Konate now competing directly with Dean Huijsen for a place at centre-back.
There is a separate contest at right-back, where Trent Alexander-Arnold is competing with Denzel Dumfries. Dumfries has made a strong impression since joining the club and has quickly established himself as a serious option for the position.
For Mourinho, the Schalke fixture therefore represents more than a routine friendly. It is the last chance to test combinations, assess Diomande in a Real Madrid shirt and make final decisions before the team’s first official match of the new season.
