Racing recruit Sergio Martinez in Real Madrid squad after impressing first team

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has named a squad missing seven injured players for Friday’s La Liga meeting with Real Betis, while new signing Sergio Martinez has been included with the senior side for the first time.

The young midfielder joined Real Madrid from Racing in recent days and had initially been expected to begin with Castilla. However, his performances in first-team training caught Mourinho’s attention and earned him a place among the senior squad for the fourth-round fixture.

The squad also includes young players Mario Rivas and Caistro, who remain part of the coaching staff’s available options as Real Madrid deal with a significant injury list.

Real Madrid completed their preparations for the match with a training session which began with rondos. Mourinho then oversaw tactical work focused on pressing and possession before the session ended with small-sided games played in tight areas.

The club will face Real Betis on Friday evening as they continue their La Liga campaign. The seven injured players who remain unavailable were not named in the squad announcement.

Real Madrid squad to face Real Betis

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Javi Navarro.

Defenders: Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Marc Cucurella, Alvaro Carreras, Antonio Rudiger, Denzel Dumfries, Mario Rivas.

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Fede Valverde, Arda Guler, Bernardo Silva, Caistro, Sergio Martinez.

Forwards: Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Carlos Espe, Ibrahim Diaz, Yan Diomande.

Martinez’s selection is the main change of note in the squad, with the young player moving quickly from a planned Castilla role to the first-team setup after making an impression during training.

His inclusion provides another midfield option for Mourinho, while the continued presence of Rivas and Caistro gives the manager further young players to call upon. The squad otherwise features a blend of established names, including Courtois, Bellingham, Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, alongside recent arrivals such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Konate, Cucurella, Carreras and Dumfries.

Mourinho’s side must therefore prepare for the Betis match with fewer available players than planned, but the manager has opted to promote Martinez rather than leave the new arrival with Castilla. The midfielder’s first senior call-up comes only days after his move from Racing and represents an early opportunity to compete for a place around the first team.