Dumfries’ reaction after his first match with Real Madrid

Denzel Dumfries played his first minutes in a Real Madrid shirt during the friendly match against Fiorentina at the Wörthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt, Austria. Named in the starting lineup by José Mourinho, the Dutch defender remained on the pitch for 75 minutes before being substituted. It was an encouraging first appearance for the new signing, who did not hide his satisfaction after the game.

Speaking to Real Madrid TV following the final whistle, Dumfries expressed his pride at wearing the famous white shirt for the first time. Despite still being short of full match fitness, the former Inter Milan player explained that he felt comfortable on the pitch and enjoyed the experience.

“I felt very good and I am extremely proud to have made my debut for Real Madrid. This first match was a great experience for me. Now, we have to continue working hard so that we are ready for the next games,” he said.

Dumfries only recently joined the Spanish giants and has taken part in just a few training sessions with his new teammates. The defender is therefore aware that he still needs time to reach his best physical condition, understand José Mourinho’s tactical demands and build stronger connections with the rest of the squad.

The Netherlands international also revealed that the Portuguese coach has asked him to remain fully committed and prove his quality every day in training.

“It was only the first match, and I have just returned to training. Mourinho asks me to work hard and prove my value. I must continue improving and give everything in every training session,” Dumfries explained.

Against Fiorentina, Dumfries did not always play in his usual role as a right-back or right wing-back. The Madrid coaching staff used the friendly encounter as an opportunity to test his versatility by deploying him in a slightly different position. However, the tactical adjustment did not trouble the Dutchman, who has become accustomed to playing in several roles during his career.

“It was not my natural position, but it was still a good friendly match to learn and adapt. I can play in different positions, and I am used to that, even though I normally play on the right side,” he added.

🗣️ Dumfries: "Estoy acostumbrado a jugar en diferentes posiciones y para mí está bien. Hay mucha calidad en el equipo y con muchas ganas de los próximos partidos."

QUÉ FICHAJAZO 😍 pic.twitter.com/N4uVRCtcPI

— (fan) REAL MADRID FANS 🤍 (@AdriRM33) August 1, 2026

Dumfries was also very positive when discussing his integration into the Real Madrid dressing room. After spending only one week with his new teammates, he is already impressed by the quality of the squad and the atmosphere within the group.

“It is incredible. We have only been together for a week, and we still need more time to get to know each other better. That is exactly what pre-season is for. At the moment, everything is going very well. There is a lot of quality in this team, and we are all looking forward to playing the next matches,” he said.

These first minutes represent an important step for Dumfries. The defender must now continue working during training and use the remaining pre-season matches to improve his fitness, strengthen his understanding with his teammates and convince Mourinho that he deserves an important role in the team.