Real Madrid News
Another Real Madrid defender ruled out for a month after fresh injury
Despite a comprehensive win over Osasuna, Real Madrid endured the worst weekend possible, as they lost out on three key players to injury.
Eder Militao picked up an ACL knock during the Osasuna game, which has ruled him out for the entire season.
In the same game, Lucas Vazquez and Rodrygo also got injured, thereby further limiting Carlo Ancelotti’s options in the first team.
Jacobo Ramon picks up fresh injury
Now, it appears Real Madrid started the new week with yet another injury to a defender, in the form of Jacobo Ramon.
As reported by Rodra P, the young Real Madrid centre-back has picked up a tendon problem, which will rule him out of action for at least a month.
Ramon is one of Real Madrid’s most talented defensive players in the youth team and was poised to make a breakthrough in the absence of key defenders in the team.
But it appears the youngster has fallen again to an injury. It must be noted that the defender picked up an injury in training earlier in the season and was ruled out during a crucial juncture.
A blow for Real Madrid?
Jacobo Ramon’s recent injury is set to serve as a massive blow for Real Madrid, especially with Carlo Ancelotti now finally starting to consider players from the youth team.
The Italian notably put his faith in Castilla’s Raul Asencio against Osasuna this past weekend. The youngster didn’t disappoint either, producing a sensational assist for Jude Bellingham’s first goal of the season.
Jacobo Ramon, to that end, was expected to be one of the prime beneficiaries of Real Madrid’s ongoing injury crisis.
But with him ruled out for a month, it will be interesting to see whether or not Ancelotti finally considers playing Jesus Vallejo, who has become an invisible entity at Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid prospect Alexis Ciria will have to wait for his Champions League opportunity despite making a strong impression on Jose Mourinho during pre-season.
The Castilla winger has been left out of Real Madrid’s European squad, but the decision is the consequence of UEFA registration rules rather than a sporting judgment.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez (h/t Defensa Central), Ciria was not eligible for Madrid’s List B because he has not been with the club long enough to satisfy UEFA’s requirements.
Registering him would therefore have required Mourinho to include him on the more restrictive List A.
UEFA rules work against Ciria
List B provides clubs with additional flexibility to register young academy players, but being young enough is not sufficient on its own.
Players must also meet requirements concerning how long they have been eligible to represent the club.
Ciria does not meet those conditions because of his limited time at Valdebebas. Real Madrid would therefore have needed to sacrifice a List A position to register him.
With those places required for members of Mourinho’s senior squad, Ciria was ultimately left out.
Real Madrid’s List B instead includes youngsters such as Joan Martinez, Mario Rivas, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero and Daniel Yanez.
Many of these youngsters made a name for themselves under Mourinho during pre-season and could be used to make up the numbers in the Champions League squad.
They could also get some minutes off the bench, especially against relatively easier opposition, as Jose Mourinho looks to manage first-team minutes.
Mourinho still plans first-team opportunity
Importantly for Ciria, missing the Champions League squad does not appear to reflect a change in Mourinho’s opinion of him.
The youngster impressed during pre-season and is expected to continue spending time around the senior team.
Mourinho intends to give Ciria his official first-team debut during the season. That opportunity will now have to arrive in La Liga or the Copa del Rey.
The Portuguese tactician placed a lot of emphasis on trusting Castilla players during pre-season in the absence of first-team stars.
Ciria was one of the many names who made a name for themselves at Real Madrid during pre-season. He deserves a chance in the first team, and it remains to be seen how Jose plans his development.
