Real Madrid News
Real Madrid await outcome as defensive ace set to undergo surgery tomorrow
Real Madrid defender Eder Militao is set to undergo surgery for a severe knee injury on Tuesday, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
The Brazilian centre-back sustained the injury on 9 November during a match against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu. This injury is a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, which also affects both menisci, making it a complex case requiring immediate surgical intervention.
The incident occurred in the 27th minute of the game when Militao attempted to capitalise on a set piece inside the Osasuna penalty area. His knee twisted awkwardly, causing him to fall to the ground in visible pain.
Realising the severity of the situation, his teammates quickly signalled for medical assistance. Militao had to be stretchered off the field, marking a distressing moment for both the player and the team.
Not the first ACL
It must be noted that this injury is not the first serious setback for Militao. He previously suffered a similar ACL tear in his left knee on 12 August 2023 during the opening matchday of La Liga against Athletic Club.
After undergoing surgery, he managed to recover and returned to action on 31 March 2024, also during a league match against Athletic Club.
However, his current injury, affecting not just the ACL but also the menisci, is more complicated and will require an estimated recovery period of nine months following the operation.
A long way
The surgery is scheduled for Tuesday and will be conducted by Dr Manuel Leyes, the same surgeon who operated on him during his previous knee injury.
The club and fans will undoubtedly be hoping for another successful recovery for the 25-year-old defender, whose absence will be felt deeply by the team as they navigate the rest of the season.
Militao’s resilience and determination to return to top form will be crucial as he faces this challenging recovery journey for the second time in just over a year.
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
