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

According to reports, manager Jose Mourinho is considering giving the 21-year-old striker an 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 an encouraging impression despite his limited playing time.

The Spanish forward has scored three competitive goals for Los Blancos, all coming as a substitute. His late strikes against Espanyol and Elche helped the club secure valuable La Liga points, while his goal against AS Roma contributed to an important comeback.

However, Espi is yet to start a competitive match for Real Madrid, with Kylian Mbappe’s presence in the starting line-up limiting his opportunities.

Real Madrid will face Racing Santander on November 1 before travelling to Greece to take on AEK Athens in the Champions League on November 4.

Mourinho could use either fixture to give Espi his first start, particularly with the demands of the club’s busy schedule making squad rotation important.

Vinicius Jr.’s suspension for the Racing Santander encounter could also create an opportunity for the Portuguese manager to experiment with his attacking options.

One possibility would see Espi lead the attack as a central striker, allowing Mbappe to operate in a wider position. Such an arrangement would give Real Madrid a different attacking dimension, with Espi offering an aerial presence and a natural focal point inside the penalty area.

Nevertheless, Mourinho must also consider Endrick, who remains another option as he competes for opportunities in the forward line.

Espi’s effectiveness off the bench has strengthened his case for more playing time, and a first start would provide him with an opportunity to demonstrate that he can deliver the same impact from the beginning of a match.

Although his involvement against Racing Santander or AEK Athens has not been officially confirmed, the coming fixtures could represent an important step in his development at the Santiago Bernabeu.