Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid confirm nature of midfield star’s injury; will not play again in 2023
Real Madrid were dealt with some bad news earlier this week when Eduardo Camavinga suffered a knee injury while training with the France national team.
The injury turned out to be much worse than initially anticipated which led to the 21-year-old midfielder being sent back to Madrid from the French NT camp.
Having flown back to Spain on Thursday, Camavinga underwent fresh tests and MRI scan earlier today, and the results of which are not very positive.
“After the tests carried out today on our player Eduardo Camavinga by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a rupture of the external lateral ligament in his right knee. Evolution pending,” the club confirmed in an official statement.
Camavinga out for 8-10 weeks
Building on that information, journalist Arancha Rodriguez is now reporting that Camavinga could be out for a period of eight to ten weeks.
It aligns with the initial assessment reports which suggested that the midfield sensation would be out for at least eight weeks.
This means that Camavinga is done for the remainder of 2023 and will only return to action after the new year.
As such, the Frenchman will miss matches against Cadiz, Napoli, Granada, Real Betis, Union Berlin, Villarreal, and Alaves.
He could also be out for Real Madrid’s first game of 2024 against Mallorca and the subsequent Copa del Rey Round of 32 clash.
The idea would be for him to return in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid, although that too appears doubtful at this point.
Nico Paz was long hyped as Real Madrid Castilla’s brightest upcoming star. The media constantly kept the spotlight on the young Argentine through pre-season as he made a strong impression under Carlo Ancelotti in preseason.
His breakthrough eventually arrived, courtesy of Real Madrid’s injury crisis. He has now made two appearances for the team in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League and even recorded his first goal for the club earlier this week against Napoli.
Taking his chances
As revealed by AS (h/t The Madrid Zone), Paz has impressed management with his cameo against Napoli and will be called up for Real Madrid’s clash against Granada tomorrow.
In fact, there is a good chance he sees significant game time on the night.
After all, Ancelotti is without the likes of Luka Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga in the middle of the park.
With Toni Kroos, Dani Ceballos, Federico Valverde, and Jude Bellingham filling the starting spots, Paz serves as the manager’s first-choice backup off the bench.
Paz voices his elation
Paz’s introduction against Napoli changed the texture of the game, and it was only poetic that he got the goal that put Real Madrid ahead again on the night.
Speaking to the media after his special night, the Castilla star did not hold back on his emotions.
“This is a dream. For a moment I didn’t even believe it. Very happy to be able to help the team. I dared. I was in automatic mode, I didn’t even know what I was doing. I hit it and well.”
“This is also a message for the other youth players: it is possible to get there. Ancelotti congratulated me, and the whole staff. They are an incredible group and I want to thank them all,” he added, urging his Castilla teammates to keep pushing.
