Six debutants and ten minutes for Espí
Real Madrid spent heavily this summer, rebuilt several areas of the squad and handed José Mourinho considerably more players than the number he is actually expected to trust. The first official match already offered an important clue. All six summer signings featured against Espanyol, and the winner came from the player who arrived without a grand presentation or promises of transforming an entire era.
Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté and Bernardo Silva started the match. Marc Cucurella, Yan Diomande and Carlos Espí were introduced in the second half. Mourinho did not leave his new arrivals wrapped up on the bench. He used the complete summer collection at the first opportunity.
Konaté produced the most convincing starting debut. The Frenchman recorded 89 touches, more than any other Real Madrid player, and completed 97 per cent of his 75 passes. He also registered nine defensive actions. For a centre-back with a short pre-season who was immediately placed in the starting eleven, the adaptation period appeared remarkably brief.
Dumfries was selected ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold and repeatedly pushed high on the right. Bernardo started alongside Federico Valverde, suggesting Mourinho already views him as one of the team’s principal organisers. Cucurella and Diomande entered with the score at 1–1, when Madrid needed greater energy and more bodies around the penalty area.
The final substitution, however, revealed the most. Espí replaced Jude Bellingham in the 80th minute. Ten minutes later, he reacted to hesitation in the Espanyol defence, went around Marko Dmitrović and scored his first official goal for Real Madrid.
Endrick also required exactly ten minutes to score on his official debut in August 2024, when he found the net against Real Valladolid. Espí did not need much more: one appearance from the bench, a handful of touches and his first serious opportunity.
His intended role has always been clear. Madrid did not sign another forward to compete with Kylian Mbappé for a place in the centre of the promotional poster. Mourinho wanted a traditional number nine who could enter late, occupy defenders and turn a chaotic move into a goal. The first test followed that description almost too perfectly.
Madrid have also extended another impressive run. Their last defeat in the opening league match of a season came in 2008, when Deportivo La Coruña beat them 2–1. Coaches, squads and entire projects have changed since then, but that particular habit remains intact.
Not all six debutants had to produce an immediate masterpiece. What matters to Mourinho is that his new signings were not left as expensive decorations on the bench, and one of them has already delivered exactly what he was recruited to provide. Carlos Espí entered as the emergency option and required ten minutes to take the leading role.
