Real Madrid 2026/27 Season Preview | OneFootball

We are taking a look at the 36-time La Liga champions’ upcoming season after two disastrous, trophy-less campaigns. Investments have been brought in, elections have been run, big calls have been made. While their rivals FC Barcelona look to make history by three-peating La Liga, something that hasn’t been done since 2011 under Pep Guardiola, new manager José Mourinho has a lot to think about.

The Real Madrid 2026/27 Season kicks off later than other clubs

Speaking of José Mourinho

The Special One has returned to Real Madrid after leaving the club 13 years ago. Age has taken its toll on José, and he is no longer the brash, hot headed, animated character on the touchline. His appointment has thrilled fans, less for his tactical ideas and more for the discipline and rigidness it will bring into the squad.

Supporters have been frustrated watching Real Madrid crumble and collapse from within, with fragile egos and internal conflicts causing rifts among some of the best soccer players in the world. Last season, it kicked off with Vinícius Jr. going up against Xabi Alonso over his substitution in El Clásico, and ended with Aurélien Tchouaméni knocking Federico Valverde’s lights out at the end of the season.

Players know that José will not tolerate any of that.

Tactically, José Mourinho has experimented with a 4-2-3-1 system, isolating a single striker up front, either Mbappé or Espí, with a No. 10 behind him in Arda Güler, though that could also be Bellingham once he returns. Two pivots are followed with either Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga or, strangely, Bernardo Silva.

Playing Bernardo Silva as a midfielder in a double pivot wasn’t the plan when the signing was made, as he was meant to play more as a right winger or attacking midfielder. But with Brahim Díaz and Yan Diomande now occupying those spots, Mourinho has had to try and get Bernardo accustomed to playing in the pivot role.

The defense slots in as expected, with Cucurella or Carreras taking the left and Trent or Dumfries on the right. Konaté and Huijsen slot in mainly as the center backs.

Preseason for Real Madrid 2026/27

Real Madrid navigated an unbeaten preseason run, although they didn’t play any invitationals or travel abroad for this year’s preparation.

Mourinho reportedly put his players through an intense first few weeks of training. “The team has started to look like a team. We are all excited,” Mourinho said to Real Madrid TV.

The first game, against local club Alcorcón, was played behind closed doors and ended in a 1-0 win. It was played only five days after the FIFA World Cup ended and, naturally, many players still hadn’t joined up with the team.

Their first serious friendly was against another Madrid-based club in Leganés, who currently play in the Segunda División. Real Madrid beat them 4-1, but they played a 4-3-3 formation in that game, the only such instance in the preseason.

They drew their next match against Serie A opponents Fiorentina 2-2 in a not-so-convincing performance. They would then fail to keep a clean sheet for the third game in a row when they beat Hungarian side Ferencváros 2-1. A goal from Carlos Espí announced his arrival to the Madrid faithful.

The two remaining friendlies against Deportivo La Coruña (1-0 win) and Schalke 04 (3-0 win) saw a near-full-strength squad as Madrid concluded their preseason unbeaten.

Real Madrid 2026/27 Transfers

Real Madrid usually don’t have explosive summers where they go on an all-out spree, but something about this summer was different.

Firstly, they were discontented with last summer’s transfer window, with Madrid buying replacements for nearly every single signing from last summer. Secondly, Florentino Pérez ran for president again weeks before the World Cup, where he didn’t win by a landslide. He had to make signings in the window to regain the trust of his supporters.

And thirdly, as everyone knows by now, Real Madrid are entering their third season without a trophy. Changes had to be made, not just with the manager but with the players as well.

Players who came in:

The Free Agents

While their rivals FC Barcelona are the ones that have recently benefited more from free agency, Real Madrid this time took a page out of their book. The club signed Premier League stars Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konaté without paying any transfer fees.

While both targets were linked with Barça before the window, Barcelona took too long to make moves and Real Madrid swiftly captured their signings.

The Necessities

Real Madrid had been looking to reinforce their left-back position for a while now, as Fran García wasn’t up to standards and Ferland Mendy barely remained fit. As such, the club signed Marc Cucurella from Chelsea in a surprise move before the World Cup had started.

No one, including Cucurella’s Spanish teammates at the World Cup camp, knew about this move until it was officially announced. Cucurella was Real Madrid’s sole representation for Spain at the World Cup, though FIFA and UEFA records state that Cucurella was a Chelsea player when he won the World Cup.

Another great signing was Carlos Espí from Levante. The Spaniard scored 11 goals for Levante in the second half of last season, single-handedly keeping them in the first division. While this move isn’t necessarily good for his development, as he will in no way dethrone Kylian Mbappé even if Espí scores 15 goals this season, Real Madrid clearly see him as an important investment.

The Galáctico

Not in terms of stature but in terms of money splashed, the signing of Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig is the biggest transfer in the history of Real Madrid. A deal worth potentially $163 million, Diomande was signed after an impressive World Cup with Côte d’Ivoire as an investment for the future.

The future of Vinícius Jr. was linked with Diomande’s arrival, but ultimately the Brazilian decided to renew his contract at Real Madrid.

Players Who Left The Club:

On paper, Real Madrid have the best squad in La Liga and certainly one of the top three squads in Europe. They have had big names for the last two seasons and they went trophyless, so will more new names make a change?

How Will the Real Madrid 2026/27 Season Go?

Tough to call.

Preseason is promising, but we still have to see this team as a cohesive unit against a big side. So many new faces under a new manager, while the old guard will feel its time is up and will enter a period of transition.

Do I see them going trophyless? I don’t think so. But do I think they will go for the big two of La Liga or Champions League? No.

A Supercopa de España title is a possibility, and perhaps a deeper run into the Copa del Rey. But this season will be spent acclimatizing the team to its manager and balancing the egos, especially those who are coming back off of an impressive World Cup.

My prediction: 2nd

For the preview on FC Barcelona, stay tuned.

Other La Liga Previews

The North (Galicia & the Basque Country)Andalusian ClubsValencia Clubs(Other) Madrid Clubs