According to a report by Madrid Universal on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Real Madrid summer signing Carlos Espi could make his first start of the season in one of the club’s next two matches against Racing Santander or AEK Athens.

Manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly considering giving the 21 year old striker a starting opportunity as he looks to rotate his squad following Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona in El Clasico.

Espi joined Real Madrid from Levante for €25 million during the summer transfer window and has made a positive impression despite limited playing time.

The Spanish forward has scored three competitive goals for Los Blancos, all as a substitute. His late goals against Espanyol and Elche helped Real Madrid earn important La Liga points, while his strike against AS Roma played a role in a valuable comeback.

However, Espi is yet to start a competitive game for the club, with Kylian Mbappe’s position in the starting line-up limiting his chances.

Real Madrid will face Racing Santander on November 1 before travelling to Greece to play AEK Athens in the Champions League on November 4. Mourinho could use either fixture to hand Espi his first start as he manages his players during a busy period.

Vinicius Jr.’s suspension for the Racing Santander match could also give Mourinho an opportunity to test different attacking combinations.

One option would be to play Espi as the central striker and move Mbappe into a wider role. This could provide Real Madrid with a different attacking approach, as Espi offers an aerial threat and a natural presence inside the penalty area.

However, Mourinho must also consider Endrick, who is another option competing for a place in the forward line.

Espi’s performances as a substitute have strengthened his case for more minutes, and a first start would allow him to show whether he can make the same impact from the beginning of a match.

Although his involvement in either fixture has not been officially confirmed, the upcoming games could provide an important opportunity for Espi to establish himself at the Santiago Bernabeu.