What will Mourinho's Real Madrid starting XI look like with six new signings?

With José Mourinho replacing Álvaro Arbeloa as head coach and the arrivals of Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Carlos Espí and Yan Diomande, Real Madrid will be a very different team from the one that finished last season without a major trophy. Arbeloa's starting lineup varied throughout his time in charge during the second half of last season, as Madrid finished eight points behind champions Barcelona. Their final hope of avoiding a second consecutive year without a major title was extinguished when they lost 2-0 in the Clásico at Camp Nou on May 10. Based on what we've seen in preseason, Mourinho plans to play a 4-2-3-1 formation with a double pivot in midfield and Jude Bellingham in the attacking midfield role. Previously, Real Madrid had been playing a very distinct 4-3-3 formation. But with more than €125 million invested in signing winger Diomande, that outlay suggests a shift that would affect both the team's attack and midfield. - LaLiga 2026-27: Stream every match LIVE all season long with ESPN (U.S.) - None of Real Madrid's summer transfers make sense: What are they doing? - Why Madrid spent big on Diomande, and how he fits in star-studded attack While most of the teams in LaLiga began their 2026-27 campaigns at the weekend, Madrid's season opener is at Espanyol on Saturday, Aug. 22 (stream LIVE at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+). Here are Mourinho's various options for his starting XI ahead of that game. Attack: Diomande or a false winger on the right? Kylian Mbappé as the center forward, Bellingham as the attacking midfielder and Vinícius Júnior (who recently signed a new long-term contract) on the left appear to have three guaranteed spots in Mourinho's starting XI. But in the Portuguese coach's plan, there remains a dilemma on the right side of the attack: whether to play Diomande as one of two pure wingers or to bring in an additional midfielder on the right flank to provide more balance to the team. In the second scenario, Silva and Arda Güler would compete for the right-wing spot, and Diomande -- the most expensive signing in the club's history -- would remain on the bench. How well the 19-year-old forward settles into his new club will determine the role of Real Madrid's newest and biggest summer signing. With Diomande in the starting lineup, Mourinho would have more pace, while with Silva or Güler, he would add more control. A third alternative would be to deploy Federico Valverde on the right wing, but for now, it appears the new club captain will start in his more natural central midfield role. Diomande starting could also be good news for right back Dumfries, as the Ivory Coast international's more attacking instincts would require more defensive support behind him. Real Madrid XI with Diomande and Dumfries Midfield: Silva or Valverde alongside Tchouaméni? In the double pivot Mourinho is aiming for, Aurélien Tchouaméni appears set to play a leading role as the only positional central midfielder in the squad. Following the failed signing of Manchester City star Rodri, the France international looks likely to be a fixture in the Real Madrid lineup, but the question remains as to who will partner him throughout the season. Mourinho has Valverde, Silva, Güler and academy product Thiago Pitarch to choose from to shape his midfield. In this regard, considering the profiles of the four attacking midfielders, it seems likely that Valverde would be the one chosen to partner Tchouameni and form a more solid midfield. However, more offensive variations aren't ruled out for matches where Madrid can expect to dominate possession. In this scenario, Silva would be the primary alternative to Valverde, thanks to his ability to bring the ball out of the back and his vision in distributing play. The third option would be Güler. The Türkiye international is slated to be Bellingham's backup in the attacking midfield role, but he has already been used in a deeper midfield position by former coach Xabi Alonso last season. His inclusion in the starting XI can't be ruled out if Mourinho wants a more attacking style of play. Pitarch is also highly regarded by Mourinho, thanks to the dynamism and stamina he demonstrated under Arbeloa, and could enter the midfield rotation at any point during the season. Real Madrid XI with Silva Defense: How will it line up with Cucurella and Dumfries? Real Madrid's back line will see several changes compared with last year. Cucurella will be a fixture at left back, with Álvaro Carreras as his backup and oft-injured Ferland Mendy relegated to a minor role. In the center of the defense, Mourinho faces many uncertainties. Dean Huijsen and Antonio Rüdiger will start, but the team is counting on the signing of Konaté and the return of Éder Militão to raise Real Madrid's defensive level. As a result, Raúl Asencio will fall down the pecking order. Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold will compete for the starting spot on the right flank. Dumfries would play in matches that require more defensive involvement, while Alexander-Arnold would be the regular starter at the Bernabéu, helping with ball distribution and circulation.