Real Madrid’s Captaincy Order
Following Carvajal’s exit, the leadership group for the season is structured as follows:
– Federico Valverde – First captain
– Vinícius Júnior – Second captain
– Thibaut Courtois – Third captain
– Rodrygo – Fourth captain
Valverde’s promotion continues Real Madrid’s long-standing tradition of appointing the captaincy to the most senior member of the first-team squad. The Uruguayan midfielder has long spoken about his ambition to captain the club, and after nearly a decade with Real Madrid, he has achieved that goal.
Valverde joined Real Madrid in 2016, signing from Peñarol just after his 18th birthday. He spent a season with Real Madrid Castilla before a loan spell at Deportivo La Coruña. Since returning in 2018, he has established himself as one of the club’s most influential midfielders and is gearing up for his ninth consecutive season with the senior squad.
Despite a turbulent campaign that included disagreements with former coach Xabi Alonso and tensions with Aurélien Tchouaméni, Mourinho continues to view Valverde as a fundamental figure for his new project.
Vinícius Júnior Moves into a Leadership Role
Vinícius Júnior also steps into a leadership role as Real Madrid’s second captain. While he joined the club in the same year as Courtois, Vinícius’s position in the hierarchy reflects seniority within the squad and the club’s internal regulations. In earlier seasons, Courtois was ahead of Vinínius in seniority, but the order was revised to reflect practical needs, such as the role of captains in direct communication with referees during matches, which makes having an outfield captain a pragmatic choice.
Vinícius endured a challenging season, including well-publicized disputes with former coach Xabi Alonso. Despite these episodes, Real Madrid have shown confidence in the Brazilian by placing him among the team’s principal leaders.
A New Era
The formation of the new captaincy group signals the start of a fresh chapter at Real Madrid. With Mourinho back in charge and several seasoned players moving on, Valverde, Vinícius, Courtois, and Rodrygo are expected to provide leadership on and off the pitch as the club aims to reclaim major trophies.
