Mourinho said on Saturday that “it is normal names are being floated about because the market is about to open … (but) our intention is the same, to keep the same 21 players plus goalkeepers until the end of the season.”

The Spanish press had speculated recently that little-used defender Raul Albiol and midfielder Esteban Granero could be on their way out of Madrid.

Madrid can reclaim the Spanish league lead from Barcelona if it can take a point at Sevilla later Saturday.