Real Madrid has officially kicked off pre-season training, but don't expect José Mourinho to have his full squad together any time soon. A whole crew of first-team players are still M.I.A., either wrapping up their World Cup duties or enjoying some much-deserved downtime after getting knocked out. It means Mourinho is running a staggered comeback plan, and it's gonna be a while before everyone's back on the pitch at Valdebebas.
Who's Back First and Who's Joining the Party
The earliest returns for Mourinho's side are Arda Guler and Federico Valverde, whose national teams got bounced in the group stage. Guler is set for July 17, with Valverde right behind him on July 18. Talk about cutting the vacation short! Then, things start to pick up: Antonio Rudiger reports on July 21, the same day new signing Denzel Dumfries, fresh off his Inter Milan stint, is expected to join the squad and maybe even get his official unveiling. Later in the month, get ready for the Brazilian duo, Endrick and Vinicius Jr., to hit the training camp on July 27. And don't forget another new face, Bernardo Silva, who's pencilled in for July 28 with his own potential presentation. Brahim Diaz comes back on July 31, and even Thibaut Courtois, whose quarter-final injury against Spain isn't serious, is expected on August 1. These guys were all out before the semis, so their recovery schedule is on track.The Big Guns Get an Extended Break
But the real drama? Five of Real Madrid's biggest stars are still grinding in the World Cup's final stages. We're talking Marc Cucurella for Spain, plus Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Ibrahima Konate all repping France, and Jude Bellingham with England. These guys are the last ones Mourinho's waiting on. If their national teams get eliminated in the semi-finals, they're looking at an August 5 return. But if any of them make it all the way to the World Cup final on July 19? They won't rejoin the squad until August 10, after their mandatory break. Mourinho's got his work cut out for him, starting pre-season with a reduced squad beefed up by academy players and those early new signings. It'll be a slow build, with the final World Cup participants not back until well into August. It means the early days of the new campaign are gonna be all about integrating these late arrivals.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.