Carlos Espi, Real Madrid's new star
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Among all the new signings at Real Madrid, Carlos Espi was perhaps the least glamarous as he came in to replace Gonzalo Garcia and serve as the club’s secondary forward.
But in his first month at the club, he has already made quite the impact, notably securing a late winner in Real Madrid’s season opener against Espanyol.
The striker has already built a strong bond with coach Jose Mourinho, which was evident given the way the Real Madrid coach spoke about him after the match while also giving him a paternal hug after the final whistle.
Real Madrid are delighted
Carlos Espi and Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid stars
Espi has done superbly at Real Madrid so far. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
According to Diario AS, Espi has quickly become a fixture at Valdebebas, spending more time there than at his own home in the capital since arriving on July 31.
Mourinho revealed he now regularly has breakfast, lunch and dinner with the striker, describing him as “a lot of fun.”
The pair have hit it off fast, and it shows. Cucurella, another regular at the training ground, has also struck up a close friendship with him.
The signing itself came together quickly. Juni Calafat proposed the deal, and Mourinho personally sealed it with a phone call.
With his release clause at Levante set at just €25 million, and Espi having scored 11 LaLiga goals in 2026 alone, more than Mbappe, Real Madrid felt they had pulled off a coup right under the Premier League’s nose.
Impressing physically and fitting in everywhere
Carlos Espi and Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid stars
Espi can become an ideal alternative for Mbappe. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Internally, Real Madrid have been especially impressed by his physical profile. At 1.94 metres, he brings a presence the squad lacked, along with subtler qualities like his ability to hold up play with his back to goal.
The club believe he can combine effectively with anyone in the front line, Mbappe included. Against Espanyol, he read the Frenchman’s run to collect the loose ball before finishing calmly for the winner.
With a full pre-season under his belt, unlike much of the squad still returning from the World Cup, Espi offers something few others currently can.
Jose Mourinho talks Vinicius, Espi, referees and more after Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid manager
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Real Madrid kick-started their campaign on a positive note after securing a 2-1 win over Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday.
It was a hard-fought win for Los Blancos, who took an early lead through Jude Bellingham’s header before being pegged back by Alex Calatrava, and had to rely on a dramatic 90th-minute winner from debutant Carlos Espi to secure all three points.
Following the win, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho spoke to the media, discussing how his side performed while also touching on individual stars such as Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and match-winner Espi.
Mourinho on the performance and Vinicius
The Portuguese felt his side thoroughly deserved the victory, praising Espanyol’s resilience while insisting Real Madrid’s second-half control made the difference.
“I think we deserved to win, but Espanyol didn’t deserve to lose. We had great control and pressure in the second half, we took a lot of risks. We deserved to win,” Mourinho said (h/t Diario AS).
“But a team that plays like Espanyol, that defends like that and counter-attacks like that, with their players pushing themselves to the limit, with such good organization, it will be tough for them to go home empty-handed. But we deserved it.”
Mourinho also pointed to his side’s physical condition as a key factor behind the system he chose to deploy.
“You can’t ignore the team’s physical condition when talking about the system. They didn’t have anyone at the World Cup and they’ve been working together for a long time, and that shows in their intensity.”
“I didn’t expect Jude (Bellingham) to be able to play so long. When it comes to pressing the way I like, we lack minutes and mileage. That’s why I value this victory so much; it’s a victory with heart, also from the bench,” he said.
“A frustrated bench doesn’t help at all, but a bench with team spirit helps you win. It was a difficult match; these are three very important points,” he added.
Mourinho also defended Vinicius, who was targeted throughout the match by the Espanyol defenders as well as fans.
Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid manager
Mourinho had a honest view of Vinicius’ antics and the hate he receives on the pitch. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
“I run the risk of you going back months to find my words from when I was Vini’s opponent. But now Vini is mine. He’s no saint, but what they do to him is too much.”
“From the first minute, it’s like he’s already been given a set routine. Now I foul him, now you foul him, one player gets a yellow card, another comes on without one. It’s incredibly frustrating for him; he needs to have a lot of mental control.”
“I’ve even told him that if he scores, he should be careful how he celebrates. We’re in a social era of anti-bullying, but with Vini, we’re still in the era of bullying,” he said.
On Bellingham, Espi and the referee
Mourinho also gave an insight into his thinking around Bellingham’s role, admitting he had weighed up different options before kick-off.
“When we talk about the best in the world, Real Madrid has many in that group. Bellingham, Vinicius, Mbappe. They are among them. I had doubts about whether to start Jude or bring him on later.”
“I don’t know if I made the right decision, but he’s very strong physically and mentally. I expect him to connect with the attackers. He has an eye for goal; he needs to play close to the goal,” he said.
“He can play deeper, but then we lose his ability to get forward. I like the Jude who, with top physical condition, creates those chances,” he added.
Mourinho went on to talk about nuances in midfield, particularly when it comes to other individuals such as Federico Valverde and Bernardo Silva.
“And Fede can also get into that position, but when he plays alongside Bernardo, he has to be more focused, and we lose that a bit. We’re still getting to know each other, but we’re doing it without dropping points. That’s what’s important,” he said.
Talking about Espi, who scored the all-important winner in the 90th minute, Mourinho heaped praise on the young Spanish forward.
“He’s a really fun guy. We live together here in Valdebebas, we have breakfast together, lunch together, dinner together, me, my staff, him, and Cucurella.
“Tomorrow (this Sunday) is his presentation; imagine, he’s living a dream. But he doesn’t work like he’s living in a dream world; he works incredibly hard. He has everything it takes to score goals; he’s an excellent player,” he said.
“When we saw that Gonzalo could go to Fulham, we analyzed the situation carefully, and we’re very happy with him. We need someone like him in these kinds of matches,” he added.
On the officiating, Mourinho offered a measured response and did not choose to villify the referee. “He had a great game, but from the bench. I might see it later in the office and change my opinion. No VAR, nothing that could have decided the match.”
Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid manager
Mourinho was extremely happy with Carlos Espi. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Asked about the challenge of managing a large squad, the coach was candid about the difficulty of leaving players out.
“The difficult thing is that you start the match with eleven players and you have twelve on the bench. I can’t fix that, I can’t perform miracles, I’ve told the players that.”
“We have to fight against the frustration of not playing; they have to understand that it breaks my heart to leave people out. If they don’t work hard, it’s easier for me. The five who came on did so to help, with a good feeling.”
Finally, Mourinho stated how it will be imperative for Real Madrid to fight for every point.
“It has to be that way. Even in friendlies, Real Madrid can’t afford not to fight to win. We’ll lose matches, I hope not many. But Real Madrid plays in four competitions and must always play seriously. And you can’t do that with ten players,” he concluded.