Valverde boost for Real Madrid as Xabi Alonso confirms four absentees

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso eased the intensity of training sessions two days before their LaLiga EA Sports debut, holding a morning session this Sunday focused on preparations for the clash against Osasuna, with the notable absentees of the injured Jude Bellingham, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, and Endrick.
These are the four confirmed absences with which Real Madrid will contest their first official match of the 2025-26 season at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. The positive news for the Basque coach is the full recovery of Uruguayan midfielder Fede Valverde, who has overcome a muscular overload that prevented him from participating in their only friendly with fans last Tuesday.
Valverde trained as normal with the squad, beginning the session in the gym before moving onto the pitch for ball work and practising attacking plays with finishing. Xabi Alonso is looking to improve attacking connections and ensure they translate into goals in his home bow in front of the Madrid faithful.
The morning concluded with Real Madrid players working on defensive aspects, as reported by the club's website, focusing on team and individual player actions.
Valverde's return resolves the only doubt Alonso might have had regarding the starting lineup, with the Uruguayan expected to feature instead of Dani Ceballos. The rest of the starters are anticipated to be the same as those who began the friendly in Innsbruck (Austria), with English debutant Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, and Alvaro Carreras expected to start at the Bernabeu.
Any uncertainties surrounding Argentinian Franco Mastantuono, who completed his third day of training with his new team, will be resolved on Monday, following a final morning of work starting at 10:30 AM. This will also include Xabi Alonso's press conference and the announcement of the first squad list for a league match, after the friendly against Tirol and the behind-closed-doors encounter with Leganes.