Jose Mourinho plans 20-player squad for Real Madrid 2026/27 season

Jose Mourinho has entered his new tenure at Real Madrid with a mandate that contrasts sharply with the club's current abundance of elite talent: a strict limit of approximately 20 players for the 2026/27 campaign. This quota, which excludes players currently sidelined by injury, creates an immediate bottleneck for a squad that currently features at least two options for nearly every position.

The consequence of this lean structure is a precarious survival battle for high-value assets who do not fit Mourinho's narrow tactical window. Most acute is the predicament of 20-year-old Brazilian forward Endrick, who now faces a choice between becoming a third-choice option behind Kylian Mbappé and Carlos Espí or seeking a loan move to the Premier League to preserve his market value and development.

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Mourinho has been clear about the rigidity of his project. Following a friendly victory over Ferencváros in Budapest, the Portuguese manager stated:

"We want a small squad. I’d say around 20 players, plus those unlucky enough to be out with injuries."

Jose Mourinho, manager, via Tribalfootball

According to AS, these words served as a warning to squad members including Raúl Asencio and Eduardo Camavinga, both of whom have been made available for transfer. The manager's commitment to a compact group persists despite significant fitness concerns; Tribalfootball reports that Mourinho has expressed concern over Bernardo Silva's condition, suggesting he may not reach full power until mid-September.

The pressure is most evident in the positional overlap. While Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin secure the goalkeeper roles, the full-back rotation is crowded with Marc Cucurella, Álvaro Carreras, Denzel Dumfries, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Ferland Mendy. The center-back position is similarly congested following the arrival of Ibrahima Konaté, leaving Raúl Asencio as a fifth option. In the double pivot, Mourinho must distribute minutes between Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga, and Thiago.

For Endrick, the tactical clash is more specific. Mourinho views the Brazilian as a No. 9 rather than a right winger, but AS reports that the coach believes Endrick lacks the characteristics of a traditional, positional No. 9. This differs from the profile of the recently signed Carlos Espí or former player Gonzalo García—who moved to Fulham—both of whom offered the aerial ability and positional discipline Mourinho desires as a "Plan B" to Mbappé.

This tactical misalignment creates a financial risk for Real Madrid. The club has invested close to €80 million in Endrick, comprising a €35 million transfer fee from Palmeiras, €25 million in bonuses, and additional costs for commissions and salary. With Endrick's net seasonal salary exceeding €5 million, Madrid is considering paying a portion of those wages to facilitate a loan and prevent the asset from losing value through inactivity.

Endrick's Potential Exit Paths

• Aston Villa: Expected to make an offer; Roc Nation is reportedly working on a deal.
• Tottenham Hotspur: Have held conversations; are open to a straight loan without a buy option.
• Roma: Have made an approach meeting the player's conditions.
• Manchester United: Mentioned as a potential rival for the player's signature.

The structure of these potential moves is restrictive. According to Yahoo/TeamTalk, Real Madrid will only authorize a "straight loan," meaning there would be no option for the borrowing club to purchase the player permanently. While such terms often deter suitors, Tottenham are reportedly open to this arrangement under manager Roberto De Zerbi, who seeks an explosive attacker capable of receiving under pressure.

Endrick's appeal remains high following a productive second half of the 2025/26 season at Lyon, where he recorded eight goals and eight assists in 21 appearances. This form secured his place in Brazil's World Cup squad and earned praise from former Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who described the forward's accuracy as "off the charts."

Despite this pedigree, the "traffic" at the Bernabéu has thickened. The arrival of Yan Diomande has further crowded the right wing, where Brahim Díaz and Bernardo Silva already compete for minutes. This leaves Endrick as the third-choice option in a central attacking role.

The decision now rests with the player, who prefers a move to the Premier League or a Champions League club where he can be guaranteed a starting role as a No. 9. The immediate trigger remains whether Endrick accepts the limited role offered by Mourinho or secures a straight loan to England.