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Real Madrid appoints José Mourinho, replacing Arbeloa

8/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Real Madrid appointed José Mourinho as head coach, replacing Álvaro Arbeloa.
The club paid over €125 million for winger Yan Diomande, its costliest summer signing.
Mourinho will use a 4-2-3-1 with a double pivot of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Jude Bellingham.
Starting XI features Mbappé centre-forward, Vinícius Júnior left, Diomande (or Silva/Güler) right, Cucurella left back, Huijsen and Rüdiger central, and Dumfries or Alexander-Arnold at right back.

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Story summary

Real Madrid appointed José Mourinho as head coach, replacing Álvaro Arbeloa.
The club paid over €125 million for winger Yan Diomande, its costliest summer signing.
Mourinho will use a 4-2-3-1 with a double pivot of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Jude Bellingham.
Starting XI features Mbappé centre-forward, Vinícius Júnior left, Diomande (or Silva/Güler) right, Cucurella left back, Huijsen and Rüdiger central, and Dumfries or Alexander-Arnold at right back.