Real Madrid are preparing to begin their new La Liga campaign, but José Mourinho still does not have all the guarantees he would like in several key areas of his squad. The biggest concern remains at centre-back, where injuries and a lack of depth have once again created uncertainty.
For the opening league match against Espanyol in Barcelona on August 22, Mourinho currently has only three senior central defenders available: Antonio Rüdiger, Ibrahima Konaté and Dean Huijsen. Behind them, Raúl Asencio and Éder Militão remain sidelined through injury.
It is a situation that has become all too familiar at Real Madrid in recent seasons. The Spanish giants have repeatedly struggled with injuries in central defence, forcing coaches to improvise and rely on players who were not initially expected to play major roles.
Mourinho quickly identified the problem after taking charge and has been asking for another centre-back since the beginning of his tenure. Real Madrid strengthened the position by signing Konaté this summer, but given the current circumstances, the Portuguese coach believes one addition may not be enough.
The club, however, currently has limited room to make another signing. A new defender could potentially arrive if Asencio leaves, but the Spaniard’s recent injury has complicated any possible transfer. Several clubs that had shown interest in him have understandably stepped back while waiting for developments.
A worrying start to pre-season
Performances on the pitch have not completely reassured Mourinho either.
Rüdiger and Huijsen have featured during pre-season but have yet to produce the level of consistency the coach will demand once competitive football begins.
Konaté represents another uncertainty. The French international has still not made his Real Madrid debut, meaning Mourinho has not yet been able to test his potential first-choice defensive partnership in competitive conditions.
There are also some concerns surrounding Konaté’s recent performances, with his World Cup campaign failing to completely convince observers regarding his current form.
With limited alternatives available, Mourinho has already turned to centre-backs from Real Madrid’s reserve team during the opening pre-season fixtures. Unless the situation changes before the transfer window closes, the Portuguese coach could once again be forced to rely on younger players during the first weeks of the campaign.
🚨💣 BREAKING: Militao's return will be the DEFENCE SIGNING. @macra pic.twitter.com/JNJKn3lv64
— Madrib Central (@MadribCentral) July 29, 2026
Militão’s comeback could be crucial
Unsurprisingly, everyone at Real Madrid is eagerly awaiting the return of Éder Militão.
The Brazilian defender has recently started working on the pitch again at Valdebebas as he continues the final stages of his rehabilitation. If everything goes according to plan, he is expected to return to action in October.
His comeback would provide a significant boost to Mourinho, both in terms of quality and depth.
However, Real Madrid will have to manage Militão carefully. The Brazilian has already suffered two serious knee injuries, both arriving when he was performing at a very high level.
For Mourinho, the challenge is therefore clear: survive the opening months of the season without further defensive setbacks while hoping that Militão can return at full strength. Until then, Real Madrid’s centre-back situation remains one of the biggest question marks surrounding the team.
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