Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has expressed significant concerns regarding the upcoming three-week international break in September, emphasizing the potential disruption it poses to his squad.

The international break does concern me,

"Players who will join their national teams to play don't worry me as much. It's the ones who join the national teams and are not really involved that concern me."

Mourinho is preparing for a challenging situation ahead of Sunday's La Liga match against Malaga at 16:00 BST, as the first international break of the 2026-27 men's football season lasts a week longer than usual. This change eliminates the traditional October break, resulting in a three-week gap for international fixtures.

Key changes to the international calendar include:

• Four international matches instead of two during the break.
• The existing breaks in November, March, and June will remain unchanged.

Mourinho acknowledged the rationale behind these adjustments, including the upcoming 2026 World Cup final on 19 July, which necessitated a shift in scheduling. He also expressed concerns about player injuries during these breaks, stating:

"I totally respect the players' decisions... but very often they pick up injuries during those breaks and right after returning from an international break."

In his media conference, Mourinho praised Jude Bellingham, Marc Cucurella, and Kylian Mbappe, who have had a strenuous summer, and emphasized the club's efforts to manage their workload to mitigate injury risks. He described Bellingham as:

"A unique kind of player, extremely important for the team," highlighting his diverse contributions and mental strength.

Mourinho concluded by expressing satisfaction with his squad, stating, "We have great, great players here."