Real Madrid had dreadful luck with injuries last season, and that was epitomised by their two starting centre-backs going into the campaign – Eder Militao and David Alaba – both tearing his ACLs within three months of each other. Militao did his in August against Athletic Club, while Alaba followed suit in December during a clash with Villarreal.
Militao returned after seven months from his injury, but for Alaba, he won’t be so lucky. Real Madrid’s feeling is that he could return in September or October, but according to reports in Austria (via Diario AS), the 32-year-old defender is likely to not play at all in 2024, as mobility issues are setting him back in his recovery.
Austria media outlet Die Presse are the ones to say that Alaba won’t return until 2025, with fellow publication Heute stating that the Real Madrid player is struggling to do tasks after 200 days that he should have been able to do at the 100/120-day mark.
Real Madrid still have Alaba pencilled in to return during the first few months of the 2024-25 season, and they will be desperate to have him back as soon as possible because of the current lack of options in central defender. The signing of Leny Yoro, their top target for the summer, would alleviate things, although right now, it’s far assured that he joins.