Why only 10 players turned up for Real Madrid pre-season training

Real Madrid resumed their training ahead of the 2023/24 season with a few new additions, but manager Carlo Ancelotti had only 10 players to work with at the start of their camp.

Los Blancos fans were able to get a glimpse of new signings Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler but did not have the full complement of their team as a number of key players were unavailable for the start of training.

In total, only 10 players started training with Real Madrid, with other players expected to join Los Blancos when they start their pre-season tour of the United States of America.

Real Madrid’s other new signing Joselu Mato, as well as other key members of the squad, were notable absentees from Real Madrid’s training, and the reasons for their absences have been revealed.

According to sources in Spain, Real Madrid have allowed players who were involved in the latest international break an extended holiday as they recover from the end of the 2022/23 football calendar.

English midfielder Bellingham was able to join pre-season training after missing the Three Lions’ most recent games with an injury, while Guler decided to forego his extra holiday in order to hit the ground running at his new club and impress manager Ancelotti.

Other players, such as Joselu and Luka Modric, who were involved in the UEFA Nations League final, will join Real Madrid in America when they play against AC Milan, Manchester United, and Barcelona.