​Real Madrid will enter the 2026/27 season with a new captaincy hierarchy following the departure of Dani Carvajal.Jose Mourinho, who has already begun work at Valdebebas ahead of his second spell in charge, has returned to a club that has changed considerably since his first tenure.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAlongside a largely renewed coaching environment and several academy players training with the first team, the Portuguese manager also inherits a new leadership group within the dressing room.And, now according to AS, with Carvajal’s exit, the leadership structure is as follows:Real Madrid’s new captains. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)Mourinho has already met two members of that group during the opening days of pre-season.Courtois reported to Valdebebas while continuing his recovery from the injury suffered during the World Cup quarter-final against Spain, while Rodrygo is still rehabilitating after rupturing both the anterior cruciate ligament and the lateral meniscus in his right knee.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementValverde’s promotion follows Real Madrid’s long-standing tradition of awarding the captaincy to the most senior player in the first-team squad.The Uruguayan has long spoken about his ambition to captain the club. Back in 2023, he admitted it was one of his career goals, and now, after nearly a decade with Real Madrid, he has achieved it.Signed from Penarol in 2016 shortly after turning 18, Valverde initially spent a season with Castilla before a loan spell at Deportivo La Coruna.Since returning in 2018, he has established himself as one of the club’s most important midfielders and is now preparing for his ninth consecutive season with the senior squad.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDespite experiencing a turbulent campaign that included disagreements with former coach Xabi Alonso and tensions with Aurelien Tchouameni, Mourinho continues to view Valverde as a fundamental figure for his new project.Courtois will be the third captain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)Vinicius also climbs the captaincy ladder and becomes Real Madrid’s second captain.Although he arrived at Real Madrid during the same summer as Courtois, the Brazilian takes precedence in the hierarchy based on his registration and debut timeline within the club’s internal regulations.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn previous seasons, Courtois ranked ahead of Vinicius in seniority. However, the club adjusted the order, partly because captains have to communicate directly with referees under modern football regulations, making an outfield player a more practical choice than a goalkeeper.Vinicius also endured a difficult campaign, particularly following his well-publicised disagreements with Alonso. Despite those controversies, Real Madrid have reinforced their confidence in the Brazilian by placing him among the team’s principal leaders.The new captaincy group reflects the beginning of a fresh chapter at