Jose Mourinho is preparing to lead Real Madrid into a new era as he looks to begin his second stint at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Florentino Perez has backed him exceedingly well in the transfer market, bringing in players like Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Bernardo Silva, Carlos Espi, and Marc Cucurella.

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The club is also pushing to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig and Rodri from Manchester City to further bolster Jose’s squad.

Now, according to AS (h/t Madrid Zone), Mourinho’s preferred starting XI is beginning to take shape ahead of the new season, with six Real Madrid players establishing themselves as guaranteed starters under the Portuguese manager.

The early weeks of pre-season have already revealed the core of Mourinho’s project as he prepares for his first campaign back at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Six players considered untouchable

Three of the untouchables. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

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The report claims Mourinho currently has six players he views as automatic selections whenever they are available.

These include Thibaut Courtois, Marc Cucurella, Fede Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappe.

The group forms the backbone of the team across every area of the pitch, from Courtois in goal to Mbappe leading the attack.

It also underlines Mourinho’s faith in Cucurella, who only arrived this summer but has quickly established himself as the first-choice left-back.

Competition remains elsewhere

While those six appear secure, several positions remain open for competition.

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The centre-back pairing is still taking shape, especially with Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen competing for places with Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao.

In midfield, much could depend on whether Real Madrid completes the signing of Rodri, while the right wing and right-back positions remain among the most competitive areas of Mourinho’s squad.

Already seen as an untouchable. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Mourinho has also experimented with playing both his right-backs, Denzel Dumfries and Trent Alexander-Arnold, on the right flank.

That said, the arrival of Diomande would make the Ivory Coast winger a lock-in on the right wing, thereby increasing competition at right-back.

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Fixed spots should be merely on paper

At a club like Real Madrid, no player should be guaranteed a definite starting role, even if he is Kylian Mbappe.

Every player must continue to prove why they deserve to play for Los Blancos, and this hierarchy must be merely on paper.

If there is one thing you can be absolutely sure of with Jose Mourinho, it is that the Portuguese tactician is unlikely to put names ahead of the team.

Jose will not hesitate to drop any player, regardless of their stature, and even these “untouchables” will know it very well.

Transfers between now and the end of the season could further change this untouchables list, and it remains to be seen how the hierarchy evolves at Madrid this season.