Jose Mourinho is facing a difficult selection decision at Real Madrid as he gradually introduces the tactical approach he wants to use after three weeks of intensive training. The Portuguese manager is working with a 4-2-3-1 formation that offers several attacking combinations but could leave him with tough choices over his starting line-up for every match.
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, competition for places in the attacking third is particularly intense. That area of the team will be responsible for creating space and supplying the decisive passes for the forwards, and Mourinho has an unusually wide range of options available to him on his return to Santiago Bernabeu, 13 years after leaving the club.
Jude Bellingham is regarded as the leading candidate to play as the central attacking midfielder. The England international impressed during his country’s campaign at the last World Cup, and his performances have made his place in Mourinho’s preferred starting XI appear almost certain.
However, Bellingham is not expected to have the position to himself. Bernardo Silva, one of the most prominent signings of the current summer, is also competing for the role. The Portugal international arrived at Mourinho’s specific request, a factor that could give him particular importance in the manager’s plans.
The status of Bellingham and Silva means other attacking players may find it difficult to secure regular starts. Among those affected is Turkey international Arda Guler, whose opportunities at Real Madrid have so far been intermittent. He has yet to receive enough playing time to establish himself as a regular first-team player.
Brahim Diaz is another player facing a challenging battle for prominence. The Morocco international has returned to Real Madrid after a loan spell with Italian club Milan, but his position in the squad remains uncertain as he competes with Bellingham and Silva for one of the most valuable attacking places.
Although Brahim has played more than 30 matches in each of the past few seasons, he has not yet secured a regular starting position. That lack of established status could limit his prospects in the contest for the attacking midfield role, particularly with two high-profile alternatives ahead of him in Mourinho’s thinking.
The demanding schedule of the new season should give Mourinho opportunities to rotate his squad and distribute playing time among his attacking options. Even so, the technical demands placed on Real Madrid, together with the intense competition for honours, are likely to force the manager into difficult decisions.
Those choices may be especially significant in decisive matches, when Mourinho is most likely to rely on the players he considers best equipped to deliver. For now, Bellingham appears to have the strongest claim to the position, while Bernardo Silva’s arrival adds another major complication and leaves Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz facing a tougher route into the starting line-up.
