Jose Mourinho has released his 25-man squad for the league phase of the 2026/27 Champions League, and a senior player in the team will play no part in their adventure at the tournament.
In what might come as a huge shock to Madrid supporters, experienced defender Ferland Mendy has been left out of the squad. The French left-back continues to recover from a long-term muscle injury and has subsequently lost his place in the the team.
Mendy suffered a muscular issue in his right leg in May and has not featured for Los Blancos since.
Ferland Mendy player training at Ciudad Real Madrid on July 23, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Maria Jimenez/Real Madrid)
While fellow sidelined stars Eder Militao and Rodrygo Goes retained their European places, Mourinho opted against registering his injured left-back.
In his absence, newly signed 19-year-old Sergio Martinez, who arrives from Racing Santander after Madrid triggered his €3 million release clause was registered.
Martinez was initially recruited for the club’s Castilla reserve side. However, the teenage midfielder has already impressed the Portuguese manager during first-team training sessions, earning a shock elevation to the senior European roster alongside 11 other youth prospects.
Sergio Martinez during his time at Real Racing. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Mendy has slipped down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabeu following the arrivals of Marc Cucurella and Alvaro Carreras, leaving the manager comfortable navigating the European group stages without him.
While the defense may be sorted, Madrid still have some huge concern in the midfield ahead of their Champions League opener against Inter on September 8.
Summer signing Bernardo Silva will serve a suspension after receiving a red card for a deliberate handball against Los Blancos while captaining Manchester City last season.
Arda Guler and Eduardo Camavinga are also suspended for the European clash at the Bernabeu. Furthermore, Aurelien Tchouameni is expected to miss out with a muscle problem, while Thiago Pitarch remains a major doubt.
Martinez is now expected to fill the void. The youngster could make his senior debut for Los Blancos in the domestic fixture against Real Betis this weekend.
