Real Madrid News
Injury update: Key Real Madrid superstar set to miss FIFA Club World Cup
Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid just cannot catch a break with injuries. Los Blancos already languish eight points behind Barcelona in the league standings and it appears that the worst is yet to come.
Karim Benzema, Eder Militao, Lucas Vazquez, and Ferland Mendy are all doubts about the upcoming games, with the latter two being ruled out for at least a month. That list just got longer in before Sunday’s game against Mallorca.
Thibaut Courtois was all set to start the match, but an injury in warm-up meant that he was replaced by Andriy Lunin. The blow was suspected to be minor, but it now appears to be worse than anticipated.
According to reports from MARCA, the Belgian will undergo tests today to determine the exact extent of his injury. However, he is expected to miss the FIFA Club World Cup this month.
Prima Facie, Courtois will be out for at least three games and the goal is for him to return in time for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg clash against Liverpool on February 21.
This is not the first time that the shot-stopper is being sidelined this season. Through sciatica, Courtois sat out close to a month last year during which Andriy Lunin established himself as a more than able backup.
The Ukrainian international is thus, once again, best placed to replace his teammate in the starting XI for the coming games. He started the game against Mallorca too but unfortunately could not do much about the goal that lost Real Madrid the tie.
Courtois has been solid for Real Madrid this season, starting 15 games and averaging less than a goal conceded per game. He makes close to 2.6 saves per ninety minutes and has overseen four clean sheets.
But as things stand, he is now set to miss the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Al Ahly, as well as the final, should Real Madrid qualify, while his involvement in the La Liga clash against Elche is also under doubt.
Although Antonio Rudiger has had success since joining Real Madrid last summer, the club are in need of more depth and players that can form the backbone of the defensive unit in the years to come.
As part of their plans, Real Madrid are prioritising a move for Josko Gvardiol in the coming summer, reports 90 Min.
The outlet suggests Gvardiol will be one of the most wanted prospects in the market, with both Real Madrid and Manchester City eyeing a move for the Croatian international come the end of the season.
Formerly of Dinamo Zagreb, Gvardiol has enjoyed immense success since his move to the Bundesliga in 2021. He has impressed onlookers with his skill, organisation and discipline, which, coupled with his versatility, make him an appealing target for any European giant.
Gvardiol was also one of the top performers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, helping Croatia finish third in the competition. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid among the clubs who have been keeping an eye on the defender for a while now.
However, signing Gvardiol will be a tricky task for Los Blancos. The player still has a long-term contract at Leipzig and could cost up to €85 million, as reported by 90 Min. Not to mention, the competition from Man City could be significant.
Real Madrid have no shortage of alternatives, though, with the club notably closely monitoring Portuguese defensive whizkid Antonio Silva, among others. So it will be interesting to see how the Spanish giants approach the market in this coming summer.
