Mourinho’s Real Madrid rebuild begins with Vinicius decision looming

Real Madrid return to training on Monday with only seven first-team players available, as Jose Mourinho begins preparing for a demanding run of fixtures and faces a major decision over Vinicius.

The Spanish club have more than 10 days before La Liga resumes, but will begin work at Valdebebas at 10:30 BST in preparation for their meeting with Villarreal on 10 October. The squad were given a week off after their defeat by Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby, with Mourinho’s approval.

Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Carreras, Asensio, Antonio Rudiger, Aurelien Tchouameni and Thiago Pitarch are the only senior players expected to take part in the opening session.

The rest of the squad will join next week, either because they are recovering from injury or away with their national teams. Those available represent the immediate options Mourinho has as he starts addressing the problems exposed during the early part of the season.

The fixtures ahead will provide a significant test. Real Madrid face Villarreal, travel to the Stadio Olimpico to play Roma in the Champions League and then visit Barcelona at Camp Nou on 25 October. The meeting with Barcelona could, at this stage, have a major influence on the shape of the La Liga title race.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid have room for improvement and are aware that several areas require attention. Their most pressing issue is the construction of attacks, an area where Mourinho has so far been unable to find a convincing solution.

The Portuguese manager has spent recent days considering how to make better use of the players currently at his disposal. That could lead to new instructions in the coming matches, as well as difficult selection decisions.

One of the clearest tests of Mourinho’s authority could involve Vinicius. The Brazil forward has not produced his best performances at the start of the campaign, and Mourinho may have to consider leaving an important player out of the starting line-up.

Vinicius’ position is particularly sensitive because of what happened last season, when Xabi Alonso made a similar decision. During that Clasico, Vinicius told cameras clearly: “I will leave the team.”

Mourinho is also set to receive a boost with the return of Eder Militao. The defender is close to resuming training with the squad after suffering an injury and undergoing surgery on a knee tendon on 28 April. The injury also ruled him out of representing Brazil at the World Cup.

When fully fit, Militao is regarded as indispensable and his return will increase competition in defence. It could also force changes in a position Mourinho appeared to have secured, although the derby defeat has affected the team’s momentum.