Real Madrid name squad for Inter clash with eight notable absences

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has announced his squad for Tuesday’s meeting with Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu, with eight players left out of the Champions League selection.

Andriy Lunin, Eder Militao, Raul Asencio, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo, Arda Guler, Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva are all absent from the squad named for the opening round of the competition’s first stage.

The omissions represent a significant reduction in the options available to Mourinho as Real Madrid prepare to face Inter on home territory. The fixture will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday as part of the opening round of the Champions League.

The squad includes Thibaut Courtois, Mestree and Javi Navarro among the goalkeepers. In defence, Mourinho has selected Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Marc Cucurella, Carreras, Antonio Rudiger, Denzel Dumfries and Mario Rivas.

Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch and Cestero make up the midfield options named in the selection.

Up front, Real Madrid will have Vinicius Junior, Endrick, Kylian Mbappe, Carlos Espe, Brahim Diaz and Yan Diomande available for the game.

The full Real Madrid squad is:

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Mestree, Javi Navarro.

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

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch, Cestero.

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

Real Madrid published the list on social media alongside the caption: “Our squad!” and tagged the Inter account ahead of the match.

The announced absences include players from every area of the team. Lunin is unavailable from the goalkeeping group, while Militao, Asencio and Mendy are missing from the defensive options. Rodrygo, Guler and Camavinga are among the players not selected in attacking and midfield roles, while Bernardo Silva is also left out.

Mourinho’s squad announcement therefore places the focus on the players available for the opening Champions League fixture, with Courtois, Bellingham, Valverde, Vinicius Junior and Mbappe among the most prominent names included.

The match against Inter will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu and forms Real Madrid’s first fixture in the opening round of the Champions League.