Real Madrid possible squad list for US pre-season tour: No Mbappe, Bellingham | OneFootball

Guillermo Rai’s recent report for The Athletic reveals that Real Madrid will be taking a mix of familiar faces and new talents on their pre-season tour of the United States.

Young stars like Endrick and Vinicius Jr. will be part of the travelling squad, but notable names such as Jude Bellingham and the newly signed Kylian Mbappe will be missing from this tour.

It must be noted that the team will kick off their pre-season tour on July 28, following two weeks of training.

Their tour will feature three friendly matches. First up, they will play against AC Milan on July 31 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

This will be followed by a match against Barcelona on August 3 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Their U.S. tour will conclude with a game against Chelsea on August 6 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Who will be a part of the squad?

The initial squad set to depart on July 28 includes Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Lucas Vazquez, Jesus Vallejo, Antonio Rudiger, Fran Garcia, Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos, Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz, and Endrick.

On August 2, they will be joined by Brazilian players Eder Militao, Rodrygo Goes, and Vinicius Jr., who recently competed in the Copa America quarter-finals.

Vinicius Jr. and Endrick will play for Real Madrid during their pre-season tour. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

Players who made it to the semi-finals or finals of Euro 2024 or the Copa America will be given a break from this tour.

Consequently, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Kylian Mbappe are not expected to participate.

They are set to rejoin the team on August 7, giving them a week to prepare before the European Super Cup match against Atalanta in Warsaw, Poland.

David Alaba, who is still on the mend from a cruciate ligament injury and recent meniscus surgery, will also be absent from the tour.

Academy players will get their chances

According to sources within Real Madrid, the squad for this tour is unusual, reflecting not only the physical strain from last season but also the demanding schedule ahead.

With a Club World Cup scheduled for the summer of 2025, the coaching staff has opted to call up seven or eight players from the academy.

Among those selected are Raul Asencio, a central defender; Rafa Obrador, a left-back; and midfielders Mario Martin, Nico Paz, and Cesar Palacios.

The final spots for the tour squad are expected to be filled by additional academy players, with decisions being made by Friday.

Real Madrid’s potential squad for the pre-season tour

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin

Defenders: Lucas Vazquez, Jesus Vallejo, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Miltao, Raul Asencio, Fran Garcia and Rafa Obrador

Midfielders: Luka Modric, Arda Guler, Dani Ceballos, Nico Paz, Mario Martin, Cesar Palacios

Strikers: Felipe Endrick, Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius Jr., Brahim Diaz