José Mourinho will have a depleted squad when his Real Madrid team face Inter Milan next week. Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga will all be suspended for that game because of cards they were shown during their last games in the European competition last season, which means that Mourinho will have to think outside the box and deploy a different kind of midfield line in the team’s Champions League opener.
If Aurelien Tchouameni is able to make his return from injury in time for that game, Mourinho could use him alongside Valverde in the double pivot. However, the French midfielder hasn’t rejoined the squad in training yet and he hasn’t completed a single session with Real Madrid’s new coaching staff, so his presence in the XI could be premature.
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As things stand right now, Mourinho could move Jude Bellingham to the double pivot and play both Brahim and Diomandé with Vinicius and Mbappé in the attacking line. Trent Alexander-Arnold could also be an alternative to that move, albeit a more unorthodox one.
