Mourinho Leads Real Madrid Transformation: Six New Signings and Starting Lineup Predictions

With Mourinho officially taking charge at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid has entered a brand-new era. The club quickly completed six key signings during the summer window — Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Konate, Dumfries, Espi, and Diomande — giving the squad a whole new look.

Looking back at last season, Real Madrid faded in the title race down the stretch, eventually finishing second in La Liga, eight points behind Barcelona, and losing 0-2 away in the Clasico on May 10. Having gone two consecutive years without a major trophy, the situation prompted the club's management to push for change.

Based on signals from preseason training, Mourinho favors a 4-2-3-1 system with two defensive midfielders and Bellingham as the attacking midfielder. That stands in stark contrast to his predecessor's 4-3-3. In particular, the signing of winger Diomande for over €125 million signals a tactical emphasis shifting toward the flanks.

In the opening match of the new La Liga season, Real Madrid will visit Espanyol on August 22 at 3:30 p.m. local time (ET). There remains considerable uncertainty over Mourinho's starting lineup for that match.

Up front, Mbappe is expected to lead the line as center-forward, Vinicius (who recently signed a new long-term contract) will hold down the left wing, and Bellingham will occupy the No. 10 role. These three are all but guaranteed starters. However, the right-side setup remains the biggest variable in Mourinho's eyes.

Should he field a pure winger in Diomande, or add another midfielder to improve the team's balance between attack and defense? If he opts for the latter, Bernardo Silva and Guler will compete for that spot, while Diomande — the club's record signing — could initially be a substitute. How quickly the 19-year-old talent adapts to the team will directly affect his playing time.

Starting Diomande would give Real Madrid's attack a significant boost in pace; deploying Silva or Guler would improve the team's ball control. As for Valverde, the new captain is more likely to be deployed in midfield rather than on the right wing.

It's worth noting that Diomande is far more involved in attack, meaning right-back Dumfries behind him will take on more defensive duties. Therefore, having Diomande on the pitch also benefits Dumfries.

In the double-pivot setup Mourinho favors, Tchouameni stands firm as the team's only natural defensive midfielder after the failed pursuit of Manchester City midfielder Rodri. He has no shortage of potential partners: Valverde, Silva, Guler, and youth prospect Pitarch are all candidates. On balance, Valverde is the most likely to partner Tchouameni and form a solid midfield shield.

However, when Real Madrid expect to dominate possession, they can opt for a more attacking combination, with Silva emerging as the main alternative to Valverde thanks to his ball-carrying ability and excellent vision. Guler, though viewed as Bellingham's understudy, also dropped into midfield at times last season and could start if Mourinho wants more attacking thrust. Pitarch is also well regarded by Mourinho and could rotate into the side over the course of the season.

Compared with last season, Real Madrid's defense will undergo significant changes. Cucurella becomes the first-choice left-back, with Carreras as backup, while injury-prone Mendy sees his standing drop. At center-back, Huijsen and Rudiger are set to start, while the arrival of Konate and the return from injury of Militao add further depth to the back line, pushing Asencio down the pecking order. At right-back, Dumfries and Alexander-Arnold will compete — Dumfries may be preferred in tougher matches, while Alexander-Arnold is expected to be the regular starter at the Bernabeu, making use of his passing and build-up qualities.

In addition, the 2026-27 La Liga season will be broadcast in full by international media, and there has been widespread discussion about Real Madrid's summer business, particularly why they spent so heavily on Diomande and how he will fit into a star-studded attack. These are the key questions on fans' minds.