Real Madrid centre-back Eder Militao tore his Acute Cruciate Ligament (ACL) against Athletic Bilbao last night and will have surgery in the coming days, the club said on Sunday.
Militao, 25, injured his left knee in the 47th minute when charging towards Bilbao’s player to grab the ball, but slid owing to the damp surface and twisted his left knee.
“Following tests carried out on our player Eder Militao, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The player will undergo surgery in the coming days,” the club said in an official statement.
Militao is expected to miss the remainder of the season, and Madrid may be obliged to sign a new center-back to compensate for his absence.
As things stand, Carlo Ancelotti will start Antonio Rudiger — who tore his ACL in 2016 — and David Alaba at center back, with only Nacho Fernandez as a backup.
Thibaut Courtois left training in tears on Thursday after sustaining an ACL injury, making this a difficult week for Madrid supporters.
“After the tests carried out on our player Thibaut Courtois, he’s been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee. The player will undergo surgery in the coming days,” Real Madrid said in a brief statement.
Courtois is expected to miss the rest of the season, according to The Athletic’s Mario Cortegana. He stated that the goalkeeper’s best-case scenario is to return to the field in April.
Aside from Militao and Courtois, Madrid’s new addition Arda Guler has yet to make his debut for the Whites.
The Turk was hurt during a training session during Madrid’s pre-season tour of the United States and did not play a single game.