REAL MADRID
How long will Militao be out for and how will Madrid cover his absence?
The Brazilian was stretchered off during the LaLiga clash against Osasuna with initial checks confirming the worst possible news, a torn ACL.
Real Madrid got back to winning ways at the Bernabéu on Saturday with the victory coming at a price, and a heavy one at that with muscular injuries sustained by Rodrygo and Lucas Vazquez.
However, their respective ailments are minimal compared to that sustained by Eder Militao. After 30 minutes of action at the Bernabéu, the Brazilian landed badly while jumping and began to scream in pain putting his hand to his right knee, the healthy one with the player returning recently from an ACL tear in his left knee. His teammates quickly called for the medical team to attend the player and the defender was stretchered off in tears.
He was quickly taken to hospital and the worst was confirmed: a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, with his meniscus also suffering and the Brazilian will now need to undergo surgery and be absent for the club for at least nine. months.
Militao’s ACL ‘hell’
The 26-year-old missed over 230 days of action after tearing the ACL in his left knee during the 2023-24 season opener at San Mamés, eventually returning to first team action again on 31 March 2024.
That was in the left knee, one that was treated with special care and is fully recovered. This time it is the right knee.
It’s not uncommon, after a serious leg injury for the other leg to suffer due to overloading and over compensation but in Militao’s case, bad luck also seems to be a factor and at best, the defender will be ready for the 2025-26 season.
Ancelotti’s defensive conundrum
At present, Real Madrid only have one fit central defender in Antonio Rüdiger. Ancelotti clearly doesn’t trust Vallejo (with youth teamer Asencio playing today rather than the 27-year-old) and David Alaba is still recovering from his own ACL rupture with the Austrian at least six weeks away from being ready to play first team football again.
Tchouameni who can also play in a defensive capacity is also sidelined and the club could now look to acquire a central defender in the forthcoming transfer window with Al Nassr’s Laporte a key target.
Other players linked with a possible acquisition are Lukeba, Leipzig’s centre-back who is under contract with the German side through to 2029. Palmeiras’ Vitor Reis and Velez Sarsfield player Valentín Gómez are the other names lined with a possible January move to the Bernabéu.