Real Madrid Include Yan Diomande for First Time as Mourinho Prepares Final Preseason Test

Real Madrid have included Yan Diomande in the squad for the first time since his arrival at the club, giving José Mourinho an opportunity to assess one of his most anticipated new signings in the final preseason match against Schalke on Sunday.

The meeting in Germany represents the last competitive test before Real Madrid begin their 2026/27 campaign. With several key players now back with the group, Mourinho has a much stronger squad available as he looks to settle on his preferred lineup.

Diomande Makes His First Squad

The inclusion of Diomande is one of the main talking points ahead of the trip to Germany. The young Ivorian attacker joined Real Madrid during a major summer rebuild and has attracted considerable attention following his performances before completing his move to the Spanish giants.

His first appearance in Mourinho's matchday plans could provide an early indication of how the Portuguese coach intends to use him.

Diomande is expected to compete for a place in an attacking unit that already includes Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé. His pace and ability to operate from the right could give Mourinho another option as he attempts to create a more balanced front three.

Mourinho Finally Has Most of His Squad Available

The Schalke match comes at an important stage of Real Madrid's preparations. Several players who had been absent or working separately during the earlier stages of preseason have now returned to training.

Jude Bellingham is among the players back with the squad, while other major summer additions are also available. New arrivals such as Marc Cucurella and Ibrahima Konaté are expected to feature in Mourinho's plans as the manager evaluates his options across the pitch.

The final friendly therefore offers a rare opportunity to work with a squad that is much closer to the group Mourinho expects to rely on once competitive football begins.

Schalke Test Could Shape Mourinho's Starting XI

The match against Schalke is more than simply another preseason fixture. With the opening league match approaching, Mourinho has limited time left to establish his preferred structure and determine which players will form the core of his starting lineup.

Real Madrid's first official league fixture is scheduled for August 22 against Espanyol, making Sunday's encounter the final chance to test combinations in a match environment before the competitive campaign gets underway.

The Portuguese coach will also have to manage the minutes of players who have only recently returned to full team training. That could mean several of his most important players are gradually introduced rather than being asked to play the entire match.

A Closer Look at the New Real Madrid Attack

One of the biggest questions surrounding Mourinho's team is how the new attacking options will fit together.

Diomande's arrival has created the possibility of a front three featuring the Ivorian alongside Vinicius and Mbappé. Such a combination would give Real Madrid considerable speed and individual quality in the final third.

However, Mourinho still has alternatives. Arda Güler and other attacking players remain available, meaning the manager has several different combinations to consider before making his final decisions.

The Schalke fixture could therefore offer valuable clues about whether Diomande is immediately considered part of Mourinho's preferred attacking setup or whether the coach plans to introduce him more gradually.

Real Madrid Enter the Final Stage of Preseason

The club arrive at the final preseason test after securing a 2-1 victory over Ferencvaros in Budapest earlier in August. That result provided Mourinho with encouraging signs, particularly from younger players, but the manager has continued to work toward integrating the full squad.

Now, with the majority of his key players available, the Schalke game gives Mourinho the chance to assess the team's overall balance before the pressure of official competition begins.

For Diomande, meanwhile, the fixture could mark the beginning of his Real Madrid story on the pitch.

His inclusion confirms that he is now part of Mourinho's immediate plans, but his role and playing time against Schalke will be closely watched as Real Madrid move toward the start of the new LaLiga season.