Real Madrid Squad Update: Mourinho's Key Absentees for Malaga

José Mourinho has named his Real Madrid squad for Sunday’s La Liga trip to Malaga, and it comes with some notable absences.

Aurélien Tchouaméni and Endrick miss out once again, both held back by physical issues that continue to shape Mourinho’s early-season plans. To fill the gaps, the coach has dipped into the academy, calling up Mario Rivas, Sicetero and Alexis Ceria from the youth ranks.

Tchouaméni’s situation remains a concern inside the club. Since returning from the post-World Cup leave granted to him, the midfielder has struggled with persistent pain. His appearances have been sporadic, his rhythm constantly interrupted, and he now drops out of contention yet again as Madrid prepare for their third league fixture.

Endrick’s case is different. The forward is not dealing with an acute injury but is instead following a specific programme tailored to protect him over the course of the entire season. The plan is clear: control his workload now to avoid bigger problems later.

At the back, Raúl Asencio is also unavailable, ruled out by shin trouble. The list of absentees grows longer: Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo and Thiago Pitarch will all sit out the Malaga clash, leaving Mourinho to juggle his options across the pitch.

The absences open the door for others. Mario Rivas steps into the defensive group, while Sicetero and Alexis Ceria join a star-studded midfield unit, a significant moment in their young careers.

Real Madrid’s squad for Malaga

• Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Javi Navarro.
• Defenders: Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Carreras, Rüdiger, Dumfries, Mario Rivas.
• Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva, Sicetero, Alexis Ceria.

A patched-together squad, youth mixed with heavyweight names, heads to Malaga. How long Mourinho can keep balancing injuries, development plans and results will shape far more than just this weekend.