Real Madrid intend to sell four players if they fail Jose Mourinho test | OneFootball

In a week’s time, the Real Madrid first team squad will return to Valdebebas for the start of their pre-season programme. Jose Mourinho will get his first chance to evaluate the players at his disposal, which will include some making the step up from Castilla.

During the second half of last season, then-head coach Alvaro Arbeloa temporarily promoted several players from the B team into his squad, and according to Diario AS, several of them will not be returning to Castilla for the upcoming 2026-27 season – those players being Fran González, David Jiménez, Manuel Ángel and Cesar Palacios.

The aforementioned will not have the “safety net” of dropping back down to Castilla if they fail to impress Mourinho, with the report stating that Real Madrid intend to sell them if they do not secure a first team place – but rather than a punishment, this would be done to ensure their development does not stagnate, and they can get regular first team football elsewhere.

At least two could reunite with Arbeloa in the Premier League

If it turns out that they end up leaving Real Madrid this summer, they would not be short of suitors, such is the quality of La Fabrica. In the cases of Angel and Palacios, they could end up reuniting with Arbeloa in the Premier League, as he is reportedly keen to bring them to Fulham once he is eventually confirmed as their new head coach.

The ploy of selling their best academy talents has worked wonders for Real Madrid in recent years, so it is no surprise that they are looking to do it again this summer with the likes of Jimenez, Angel and Palacios. But before that happens, they will have the chance to prove themselves to Mourinho, which will certainly be easier said than done.