Tchouaméni, Endrick and Pitarch return to Real Madrid training ahead of Inter clash

Aurélien Tchouaméni, Thiago Pitarch and Endrick returned to Real Madrid group training on Sunday, according to Managing Madrid, as José Mourinho’s side prepares for its Champions League opener against Inter Milan on Tuesday. All three missed more than a month of preseason, making starting roles unlikely.

The trio’s return comes at a difficult moment for Mourinho’s midfield options. Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler and Bernardo Silva are all unavailable for the Inter fixture through suspension, meaning the returning players add meaningful depth to a squad already stretched in the middle of the park. Tchouaméni’s availability is particularly relevant given the scale of those absences.

Managing Madrid’s report is careful to frame Sunday’s session as a conditioning step rather than a green light for selection. Having missed such a significant portion of preseason, Tchouaméni, Pitarch and Endrick are expected to use the coming days to rebuild fitness and grow familiar with Mourinho’s system before any decision is made on their involvement against Inter.

The return to group work does not confirm readiness for match action — that remains a call for the coaching staff as the week progresses. Whether any of the three are included in the matchday squad, and in what capacity, will offer a clearer picture of how close each player is to competing at the highest level.

Real Madrid head into the fixture off the back of a frustrating defeat against Real Betis, adding further pressure to Tuesday’s European debut under Mourinho. The next few training sessions will be critical in determining how many of the returning players are available to him when the squad is finalised.