José Mourinho's Ideal Squad: Real Madrid's Transfer Dilemma

José Mourinho has never been one for clutter. Not in his dressing room, not in his squads, and certainly not in his plans.

Right now, Real Madrid are carrying 26 first‑team players. Mourinho wants 20. Add the three long-term absentees – Éder Militão, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy – and the equation is clear: three men are surplus, even when the injured are counted.

He spelled it out after the game in Budapest: “I want a small squad, made up of 20 players plus the injured ones.” No ambiguity. No room for passengers.

Since then, the numbers have swelled instead of shrunk. Thiago Pitarch’s promotion from the academy has nudged the list to 26, pushing the club into a delicate final stretch of the transfer window. On the surface, the market feels calm. Underneath, it is anything but.

A €225m rebuild, but no Rodri replacement

Real Madrid have already spent heavily to mould the squad in Mourinho’s image. Six signings, €225 million outlaid: Diomande, Cucurella, Dumfries, Konaté, Bernardo Silva and Carlos Espai. A spine rebuilt, flanks reinforced, versatility injected across the pitch.

The marquee plan, though, never materialised. Rodri was supposed to be the centrepiece, the deal that would define the window. Instead, the Manchester City midfielder left the club at a critical moment, and there is currently no intention to dive back into the market for another central midfielder.

So Mourinho will work with what he has. And what he has is depth – perhaps too much of it – in specific areas.

A new central defender could still arrive, but only under strict conditions. The idea hinges on one of the more sensitive cases in the squad: Asensio. If a strong offer lands on the table and the academy graduate agrees to go, the club will consider bringing in another centre-back. For now, Asensio is resisting that scenario, repeating his desire to stay and fight for his place.

Versatility as currency

Mourinho’s ideal squad is tight, but not rigid. He wants 20 outfielders who can each cover more than one role. That’s where players like Arda Güler and Bernardo Silva become crucial.

Both can operate across the attacking line. Both can drop into midfield. They are tactical tools as much as they are individuals, allowing Mourinho to keep the group small without sacrificing options.

The same logic applies to Jude Bellingham. He can be a 10, an 8, a second striker, a link player. In Mourinho’s mind, that flexibility justifies their place. What he wants to avoid is a bench stacked with specialists who barely play and slowly sour the atmosphere.

He has seen dressing rooms turn toxic when too many players feel locked out of the picture. He will not let that happen here.

Camavinga: admired, but available

One of the most intriguing names in this balancing act is Eduardo Camavinga. Real Madrid still hope to sell him if the right proposal arrives. The reality, so far, is blunt: no serious offers have landed this summer.

Camavinga has signalled that he would like to stay. That stance could shift if a major club steps forward with a concrete project and a convincing role, but until that happens, he remains in limbo.

Mourinho’s view is nuanced. He liked what he saw from the Frenchman in pre-season. He has praised his attitude and commitment in training. Yet admiration does not override the broader plan. If a suitable offer comes in, the club will not block his exit.

The message is cold, but clear: no one is untouchable if it helps streamline the squad.

Endrick stays, Mendy stalls

Endrick’s case was more delicate. Young, high-profile, and at risk of being lost in the shuffle, he was a prime candidate for a loan move. According to Spanish outlet AS, the club seriously considered sending him out to gain minutes.

Mourinho intervened. He asked for the idea to be shelved, and the club agreed. Endrick stays, at least for now, under the Portuguese coach’s direct supervision.

That decision shifts the spotlight onto Ferland Mendy. Left-back is one of the most crowded positions in the squad, with three options already on the books. The club would like to resolve Mendy’s future, aware that his injury record and inconsistency make him a difficult player to rely on.

But again, there is resistance. AS report that Mendy has no intention of leaving at this moment. He is backing himself to reclaim a place, even as the club quietly looks for a way out.

Asensio’s bad timing

Then there is Asensio, the academy product who still believes he can win Mourinho over.

He worked hard in pre-season, determined to prove he belongs in the new project. Just when he needed rhythm and visibility, his body betrayed him. A quadriceps muscle injury has ruled him out of training at Valdebebas for around six weeks.

The setback hits at the worst possible time. Any club considering a move now has to weigh not just his role and salary, but his fitness and immediate availability. Every day that passes makes a clean exit more complicated.

For Mourinho and the board, that matters. Asensio is one of the potential levers that could unlock a defensive signing. If he stays and no major sale materialises, the idea of bringing in another centre-back may simply die on the table.

Two per position – and a few too many

Strip away the noise and Mourinho’s blueprint is simple: two players for every position. No more, no less.

Reality is messier. There is a surplus at centre-back until Militão returns, and his recovery remains uncertain. There is a surplus at left-back, where Mendy is considered unreliable but still immovable. There is a surplus on the right wing, tempered slightly by Bernardo Silva’s ability to drift inside and operate as a midfielder. And up front, there is genuine abundance.

From the club’s perspective, any departure in these areas will be welcomed. Not forced at any price, but treated as an opportunity to bring the numbers back in line with the coach’s demands.

If the offers don’t come, most of these players will stay. Mourinho will adapt, as he always has, but not without a watchful eye on the mood in the dressing room.

The foundations of his Real Madrid are already in place: the big money spent, the key profiles signed, the tactical core defined. What remains is the untidy part of any rebuild – trimming the excess, convincing reluctant players to move on, and locking in a group that can live with his demands.

The window’s clock is ticking. The squad is almost his. The final question is who will still be standing when the door finally slams shut.