Mourinho Declares Real Madrid Squad Complete Despite Rodri Miss

Posted : 25 August 2026

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has insisted that he is satisfied with his squad despite the club failing to sign Rodri, who ultimately completed a move from Manchester City to Barcelona. Mourinho said he does not currently expect any further additions before the transfer window closes.

Madrid made major changes to their squad during the summer, bringing in six new players, including record signing Yan Diomande, Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella. However, Rodri's move to Barcelona means Silva remains the club's principal midfield reinforcement following the departures of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in recent seasons.

Mourinho acknowledged that the transfer market remains unpredictable and that circumstances could still force the club to reconsider its plans. Nevertheless, he said he has not requested another signing and is pleased with the players currently available to him.

The Portuguese coach's comments come after Real Madrid began their LaLiga campaign with a 2-1 victory over Espanyol. Federico Valverde and Bernardo Silva formed the midfield pairing in that match, with Carlos Espí scoring a late winner.

Tchouameni Ruled Out

Mourinho also confirmed that Aurelien Tchouameni will not be available for Real Madrid's upcoming meeting with Real Sociedad because the midfielder is not yet fully fit.

The French international has been recovering from a physical problem and Mourinho does not want to rush him back. The coach stressed that players can sometimes finish a season while carrying physical problems, but he believes beginning a new campaign without being fully fit is unacceptable.

Mourinho has instead placed his confidence in Federico Valverde to operate centrally. The Uruguay international has previously been deployed in several positions, including right-back and on the wing, but his manager considers midfield his natural role.

The coach also emphasized that modern football has become increasingly fluid, making traditional positional labels less important. Rather than strictly defining players as a No. 6, No. 8 or No. 10, Mourinho wants his midfielders to adjust their positions according to the opposition and the demands of each match.

Although Rodri would have provided another elite option in midfield, Mourinho has repeatedly maintained that Real Madrid can compete without him. The Spain international signed a four-year contract with Barcelona after leaving Manchester City in a deal reportedly worth around £65.4m.

Mourinho Declares Real Madrid Squad Complete Despite Rodri Miss

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