Real Madrid will be without Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham for their tour of the United States.
But they will include both Felipe Endrick and Vinicius Jr on their pre-season tour, which begins on July 28. After two weeks of training at the Ciudad Deportiva Real Madrid in Valdebebas, Carlo Ancelotti’s team will play three friendly matches in the U.S.
They will face AC Milan at Soldier Field in Chicago on 31 July, Barcelona on August 3 (at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey and Chelsea on August 6 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Lucas Vazquez, Jesus Vallejo, Antonio Rudiger, Fran Garcia, Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos, Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz and Endrick are scheduled to travel on 28 July.
They are expected to be joined on July 2 by the Brazilian players who played in the quarter-finals of the Copa America: Eder Militao, Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Jr.
Players who reached the semi-final or final stage of Euro 2024 or the Copa America will not have to attend.
That is why — barring any surprises — Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Kylian Mbappe are not expected to be in the squad for the tour. All of them are scheduled to return on August 7 — a week before the European Super Cup against Atalanta in Warsaw, Poland.
David Alaba, who is still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury and recent meniscus surgery, is also not expected to make the trip.
Overall, according to Real Madrid sources who have been kept anonymous to protect relationships, it is not a typical squad — but not only because of the physical toll the players suffered last season. There is also the intense schedule for the upcoming season — with a Club World Cup in summer 2025.
The coaching staff have therefore called up seven or eight players from the academy.
Raul Asencio (central defence), Rafa Obrador (left back), Mario Martin, Nico Paz and Cesar Palacios (midfielders) are among those chosen, while the remaining three or four will be decided on Friday.
Joan Martinez, who is liked by the coaching staff, is not likely to be included.
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The squad for the U.S. 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 Junior, Brahim Diaz
(James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
