Real Madrid prepares a fleeting pre-season due to LaLiga

Real Madrid has decided to carry out a 'fleeting' pre-season, of just two weeks, this August, after confirming LaLiga's refusal to their request to postpone the first matchday of 2025/26, scheduled for Tuesday, August 19 against Osasuna.

The 'Casa Blanca' hoped to have an extra week of rest after their participation in the Club World Cup. However, the employers' association rejected the request to postpone their first match of the season, due to Javier Tebas' manifest opposition to the organization of the FIFA World Cup.

Thus, the Madrid squad will return to work next Monday in Valdebebas, without the presence of Jude Bellingham, who will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery (injury to his left shoulder) and with several unknowns regarding possible departures. 

Real Madrid will play a friendly in Austria prior to their debut in LaLiga

On Friday, the 'merengue' board confirmed the dispute of a friendly against the Austrian WSG Tirol in the city of Innsbruck. The match will be played on Tuesday, August 12 from 19:00 CEST, a week before Xabi Alonso's team's league debut, at the Santiago Bernabéu against Osasuna.

The Whites have not played since July 9, in the semi-final of the Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain (4-0). The tough defeat against the Gauls meant the end of 24/25, a disastrous season in which the team completed their first 'nothing-win' since 2021.

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Now, Madrid hopes to start a new winning cycle with Xabi Alonso on the bench and the arrival of four reinforcements that have meant an investment of 167.5 million euros. Trent Alexander-Arnold was the first to arrive, followed by Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono. The last signing, for now, is Álvaro Carreras, who arrived after the World Cup.

On the departure ramp, for now, are Ferland Mend and Rodrygo Goes, both apparently discarded by the coach from Tolosa. Andriy Lunin, Dani Ceballos and Endrick may also leave, although for now none have confirmed concrete offers.

Javier Tebas clarifies LaLiga's reasons for not postponing the Madrid-Osasuna match

As things stand, Real Madrid will bring forward their return to work, after three weeks off and a schedule of more than 60 matches in 24/25. Regarding the reasons why LaLiga denied the postponement of their match against Osasuna, Javier Tebas was blunt in assuring that this measure would harm the general calendar. This is what the statement issued by the employers' association says:

• "The fact that two teams as important as Real Madrid CF and Atlético de Madrid cannot play on the first matchday is detrimental to the championship. Especially on the first matchday. It will be analyzed when the time comes and, also seeing a little the reaction of the rest of Europe, which, as of today, according to what the CEOs and presidents have told them, do not plan to change it".

In addition, the competition clarified that, beyond the claims of the 'Casa Blanca' and the Spanish Footballers Association (AFE), the agreements reached with the clubs have always been respected. For the moment, the minimum vacation period established after the end of the season is three weeks, a period that the 'merengues' will comply with without problems.

This will be Real Madrid's itinerary in August:

1. Return to training: Monday, August 4:
2. Friendly match against WSG Tirol: Tuesday, August 12
3. Matchday 1 of LaLiga: Tuesday, August 19, vs Osasuna
4. Matchday 2 of LaLiga: Sunday, August 24, vs Oviedo
5. Matchday 3 of LaLiga: Saturday, August 30, vs Mallorca