Mourinho’s Real Madrid Era Begins: €225M Galáctico Reboot Debuts at High-Flying Espanyol
José Mourinho returns for his second spell at Real Madrid, kicking off a new era at Espanyol with a heavily revamped squad following a massive €225M summer spend.
Published 21 Aug 2026Updated 16 Oct 20261 min read
The highly anticipated competitive debut of José Mourinho's second spell in charge of Real Madrid finally arrives this Saturday. Following the rescheduling of their opening match against Real Sociedad, Los Blancos travel to Catalonia to face a high-flying Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium.
The €225M Galáctico Reboot
Real Madrid hasn't held back in the transfer market, backing the Portuguese manager with approximately €225 million in spending this summer. The significant outlay has been largely offset by the club's prolific La Fábrica academy, which generated nearly €199 million through player sales and retained rights. The refreshed squad boasts major new additions, including Yan Diomande (a record signing reaching up to €140m), Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, and Denzel Dumfries.
We are on a mission to create a culture of work and responsibility.— José Mourinho
However, Mourinho's return is not without its early challenges. Defensive injuries, notably to Eder Militão, have presented a selection headache ahead of the trip to Barcelona.
A Confident Espanyol Awaits
Espanyol will provide a stern test for the new-look Real Madrid. They enter the fixture brimming with confidence after a commanding 3-0 victory over Levante on opening day, placing them second in the LaLiga standings with 3 points.