Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid and Belgium player
Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Real Madrid continue to welcome back their World Cup players, with Thibaut Courtois becoming the latest member of Jose Mourinho’s squad to return after his summer break.
The Belgian goalkeeper, who picked up a minor muscle issue during the World Cup against Spain, is now back at the club and working towards full fitness ahead of the new season, reports Melchor Ruiz of COPE.
Although Real Madrid have travelled to Hungary for their second pre-season friendly, Courtois remained in Madrid to continue his recovery.
Like Yan Diomande did on his first day at the club, the goalkeeper trained individually at Valdebebas, working under the Madrid heat while waiting for the rest of the squad to return.
Thibaut Courtois #1 of Belgium
Back in training. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
The plan is for Courtois to continue building his fitness before rejoining full team training ahead of Real Madrid’s next pre-season fixture against Deportivo La Coruna.
Mourinho’s squad is also set to receive another wave of returning internationals over the coming days.
Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Aurelien Tchouameni, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham are the final World Cup participants still due back.
And, as per the report, unless nothing changes, their arrivals expected to take place on Monday, as Real Madrid continue preparations ahead of the start of the new league season.
Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid
Returning next week. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The five players made it to the final four at the World Cup, with Cucurella winning the trophy with Spain, while Bellingham’s England finished third after beating Mbappe’s France.
Once they return, Mourinho will finally have the entire Real Madrid squad at his disposal as he hopes to get the team ready to hit the ground running from their opening La Liga game against Espanyol.
Considering that they will return only on Monday, it might be unlikely that Bellingham, Mbappe, Cucurella, Tchouameni, and Konate take part in the friendly against Deportivo La Coruna.
They could, however, make their maiden appearance under Mourinho in the subsequent fixture against Schalke in Germany, which will the team’s final pre-season match of the summer before the new season gets underway.
Alvaro Carreras of Real Madrid
Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images
Alvaro Carreras returned to Real Madrid from SL Benfica last summer in a €50 million move, with the club bringing back one of its former academy graduates after his impressive spell in Portugal.
However, after an underwhelming first season, Real Madrid responded by signing World Cup winner Marc Cucurella for another €55 million, creating fierce competition at left-back.
On paper, Carreras begins the new campaign as the second-choice option, but the Spanish defender has used pre-season to show he has no intention of accepting that status without a fight, reports AS.
Carreras reported on the first day of pre-season and has featured heavily ever since.
He started both behind-closed-doors friendlies against Alcorcon and Leganes, before completing the full 90 minutes in Real Madrid’s first official pre-season match against Fiorentina.
His biggest contribution came in that game when he provided the assist for Endrick’s opening goal, delivering a precise low cross that the Brazilian striker converted from close range.
Alvaro Carreras of Real Madrid
Not going down without a fight. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)
Late in the match, after Lamini Fati came on, Jose Mourinho pushed Carreras further forward, hinting at another possible tactical role for the defender if Real Madrid opt to use two attack-minded full-backs to close out matches.
Carreras returned to Real Madrid as one of the club’s long-term investments.
After leaving the academy due to limited opportunities, he spent time with Manchester United, Granada, and Preston North End before establishing himself at Benfica, where he emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young left-backs.
His performances, including an impressive display against Barcelona in which he successfully contained Lamine Yamal, convinced Los Blancos to bring him back. His first season, however, failed to meet expectations.
Carreras made an encouraging start, impressing with his composure in possession and dangerous low deliveries into the penalty area. Like much of the squad, though, his form gradually declined.
After Alvaro Arbeloa took charge, Carreras lost his place, with Ferland Mendy preferred for major Champions League fixtures against Manchester City and Bayern Munich.
Alvaro Carreras of Real Madrid
Eager to impress. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)
Carreras now enters his second season at Real Madrid. He faces less external pressure than a year ago, but also the prospect of fewer minutes because of Cucurella’s arrival.
Rather than discouraging him, that challenge appears to have motivated the defender. Throughout the summer, he has worked extensively on his physical condition, returning noticeably stronger and more muscular.
Mourinho has shown confidence in him by starting him in every pre-season match, and significantly, none of the three goals Madrid have conceded this summer have come through errors on Carreras’ side.
Cucurella’s arrival is expected to reduce Carreras’ playing time over the course of the season.
Even so, the former Benfica defender has made one thing clear throughout pre-season. He has no intention of accepting the role of luxury backup, and is determined to convince Mourinho that he deserves to fight for the starting spot.