Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward gets closer to returning from long-term injury after key step forward
According to MARCA, Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes took one of the most eagerly awaited steps of his recovery from his ACL injury today.
The Brazilian forward touched a football again at Valdebebas, a seemingly routine moment that carries much greater significance for a player who has spent more than six months away from the pitch.
It was the latest step in a rehabilitation process that the attacker has been working through patiently since last winter and which is now beginning to approach its final stages.
It was on 2 March against Getafe that Rodrygo suffered from a torn ACL and lateral meniscus in his right knee, the most serious injury of his career.
It ruled him out of the decisive part of last season and the 2026 FIFA World Cup he had hoped to play with Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti.
On 10 March, he underwent surgery, beginning a rehabilitation process estimated to take eight or nine months.
Since then, Rodrygo has been progressing through each stage steadily and without rushing, aware that there is little value in accelerating the recovery from an injury of this severity.
Real Madrid, for their part, have maintained firm control over the timetable and has been unwilling to bring forward any stage of the process.
From running to working with the ball
The first major milestone came at the beginning of September, when the Brazilian returned to the pitch at the training ground to run separately from the group.
Several weeks of work have now passed between that controlled running session and his first contact with the ball.
Now, with the ball back at his feet, Rodrygo is entering the final stretch of a process that remains scheduled to conclude with his return between December and January.
There is still work to do, particularly in recovering his match fitness, rhythm and full confidence in a knee that required surgery.
Real Madrid’s injury list is beginning to clear
The most difficult part of the process is now behind him, and Rodrygo is gradually moving towards a return to a team that has changed considerably in his absence.
More importantly for Real Madrid, he is also not the only player beginning to see the end of his rehabilitation.
Eder Militao, another Brazilian who has endured an extended period on the sidelines, is already running alongside his teammates.
Ferland Mendy is also progressing with his recovery and has been seen working with the ball.
These three gradual returns will give Jose Mourinho players who have been unavailable for the opening stages of the season.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid resolve their pitch problems as the Bernabeu surface returns to good condition
After years of problems with the pitch, Real Madrid now believe that those issues are now a thing of the past, reports MARCA.
For several seasons, the playing surface at the Santiago Bernabeu had become one of Real Madrid’s biggest headaches. Five pitch changes in a single season, paint used to disguise its poor appearance on television and criticism from all sides.
The club had been trying to solve the problem for some time and now, they believe they have finally found an answer.
The Bernabeu begins to put its turf problems behind it
The latest operation was accelerated following the NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Commanders, forcing the club to replace the playing surface in just 72 hours to meet the deadline last season. This time, however, there was an important difference.
After establishing that the underlying structure was in good condition, Real Madrid decided to retain the existing turf panels and hybrid stitching system rather than remove everything and start again.
The new grass was installed over the existing base after being cultivated for several months. The variety selected was RyeBlue Deportivo, a high-performance mixture consisting of 50% perennial ryegrass and 50% Poa pratensis.
Real Madrid hoped the combination would provide a definitive solution. The club’s groundskeeping team has since refined the maintenance process, and the results are encouraging.
The Bernabeu is now in a condition that satisfies the club, and there are no plans to make further changes to the playing surface during the season.
It is the outcome Real Madrid have been pursuing for years, following a situation that eventually concerned the players themselves.
Major concerts remain the Bernabeu’s outstanding challenge
While the pitch problem appears to have been brought under control, the return of major concerts remains the Bernabeu’s biggest unresolved issue.
Real Madrid have spent months working to address the noise problems that forced them to suspend large-scale concerts.
The work has included soundproofing improvements and other measures designed to prevent noise from escaping the stadium. However, there is still no confirmed date for the return of major events.
Real Madrid believe the work carried out has brought the stadium closer to an optimal level of sound insulation.
Several areas have been reinforced to reduce noise escaping outside, with particular attention paid to entrances, enclosures and other points through which sound waves could travel.
The structural soundproofing work is understood to be nearing completion, with final architectural finishing work and official sound-emission tests still outstanding.
In the meantime, Real Madrid are exploring ways to make a return to large-scale events more feasible.
The aim is to make full use of the improvements already completed and establish a model that allows the club to revive an activity that was one of the major commercial attractions of the renovated stadium.
Until that becomes possible, Real Madrid continue to explore other ways of generating revenue from the Bernabeu. Corporate events, award ceremonies, conferences and private celebrations remain among the alternatives.
For Real Madrid, resolving the pitch issue is a significant step forward. Restoring large-scale entertainment to the Bernabeu remains the next major objective.
