Real Madrid News
Real Madrid superstar takes major step in injury recovery six months after ACL tear
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has taken a major step in his recovery from a serious knee injury after returning to the pitch at Valdebebas for the first time in six months.
The Brazilian was back outside at the club’s training complex on Tuesday, beginning a gentle running programme under the supervision of members of Real Madrid’s rehabilitation team.
Rodrygo shared his excitement on social media alongside photographs and a video of the session, writing, “It feels so good to be running on the pitch again! Let’s keep going!”
Rodrygo begins running at Valdebebas
Rodrygo suffered the injury on March 3 during Real Madrid’s La Liga meeting with Getafe at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The forward had only recently entered the game as a substitute when he sustained damage to the anterior cruciate ligament and outer meniscus in his right knee.
Despite experiencing significant pain, he continued playing until the final whistle.
The extent of the injury became clear after the match, with Rodrygo subsequently undergoing surgery on March 10.
That began a demanding rehabilitation process which has kept him away from the pitch for the past six months.
After several weeks of work in the gym alongside Madrid’s rehabilitation staff, the 25-year-old has now been able to progress to outdoor running.
Real Madrid still face a long wait
Rodrygo’s return to the pitch should not be confused with a return to team training.
Sure, running is an important milestone in ACL rehabilitation, but the Brazilian still needs to complete several further stages before he can resume full football activity.
Real Madrid will therefore remain cautious with his recovery, particularly given the seriousness of the original injury and the additional damage to his meniscus.
The club’s current objective is for Rodrygo to become available to Jose Mourinho during the final stretch of the 2026/27 season.
That timeline gives the forward several more months to rebuild his fitness, strength and confidence before making his competitive comeback.
Real Madrid News
Report: Mourinho’s preferred pivot combination for Real Madrid’s big games this season
The midfield pecking order at Real Madrid still remains unclear five games into the new season, especially given that Los Blancos could not make the signings they expected.
Federico Valverde has remained a constant in the double pivot under Jose Mourinho, but his partner has changed constantly.
Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva have been the manager’s primary options to partner Valverde in midfield so far this season, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s absence through injury has been one pioneering factors for the same. The Frenchman, however, is back now from injury and it remains to be seen how the dynamic changes.
The big game pair
As confirmed in a recent update on El Larguero, Jose Mourinho has decided his pivot his big games now and it will indeed be the Valverde-Tchouameni combination.
The Uruguayan star has made his presence felt this season with strong shifts in terms of pressing and an attacking output. He was even named the man of the match against Inter Milan and is seemingly undroppable.
What Tchouameni will bring to the table, however, is defensive solidity – something that is a non-negotiable given that the forwards barely provide any defensive work-rate.
Having Valverde and Tchouameni at the base of midfield will help cut short opposition buildups and disrupt the play.
Waters will be tested soon
Tchouameni made his much-awaited return to the field in Real Madrid’s game against Inter Milan and came on for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 79th minute.
He briefly joined Valverde in the double pivot at the time and provided a glimpse of how the duo can work in tandem in the defensive midfield. However, the waters are yet to be tested adequately.
With the Frenchman now fit, Jose Mourinho could well look to start the duo together in Real Madrid’s coming games. They have played together in the past, but doing so in a double pivot in Mourinho’s system is demanding.
Moreover, there are concerns over the team’s drop in creativity and distribution with Valverde and Tchouameni at the heart of midfield, and it remains to be seen if the manager can come up with a workable solution.
After all, the players had a bad falling out on a personal level just months ago.
