Substitute Seals Dramatic Return Victory
Jose Mourinho’s second spell in charge of Real Madrid began with genuine drama, as substitute Carlos Espi struck in the 90th minute to secure a 2-1 victory at Espanyol. Speaking warmly about his summer signing afterward, Mourinho couldn’t hide his affection for the young striker. “I like Carlos Espi! I like him a lot. We live together at Valdebebas, he’s very funny,” he said.
Notably, that closeness extends well beyond the training ground. “We have breakfast together every day,” Mourinho revealed, adding a lighthearted detail that quickly spread across social media. “We’re living there with Cucurella too! All players should know we need all of them, not 13 or 14.”
That comment carried genuine significance. Mourinho, back at the Bernabeu 13 years after his first spell, appears determined to build unity across his entire squad rather than favouring a select group of stars. Espi’s decisive contribution, arriving off the bench just ten minutes after entering, offered the perfect illustration of that philosophy in action.
Surprise Package Becomes Early Star
Espi’s rise has been genuinely unexpected. Signed from Levante for around €25 million, the 21-year-old carried far less fanfare than fellow summer arrivals Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate. Yet he entered Saturday’s match having already finished pre-season as Real Madrid’s top scorer, netting twice across four appearances without ever starting.
His decisive strike against Espanyol continued that remarkable trend, capitalising on a loose ball after Kylian Mbappe had been dispossessed near the box. Notably, it marked his 11th goal in La Liga since late February, the most by any player across that entire span, underlining consistency that clearly caught Mourinho’s attention.
“He’s living a dream but he doesn’t work like someone on the moon, he works a lot for the team,” Mourinho added, praising Espi’s defensive contribution alongside his clinical finishing. Mourinho also handed full debuts to three summer signings simultaneously, according to ESPN, the first time Madrid have done so since 2009.
Readers following Real Madrid’s new era under Mourinho can find continued coverage on KCPredict throughout the new season.