Real Madrid defender David Alaba has been struck down with an injury setback less than three weeks after making his long-awaited comeback from ACL rehab.
Alaba tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in December 2023, missing 13 months during the recovery process. He featured in four Madrid games off the bench in the final two weeks of January, but has now picked up a fresh problem.
In a brief statement on Tuesday morning, Madrid confirmed that tests had been carried out, pointing to an adductor muscle injury in the player’s left thigh. There is no official timeframe on the likely recovery period, or indeed the severity of the problem.
“His progress is being monitored,” is the only such information given by the club, but AS estimate his absence as two to three weeks.
Madrid are already missing Eder Militao as a result of the Brazilian’s second ACL injury in the space of two seasons, although he is reported to have made swift progress.
With Jesus Vallejo seemingly not trusted by Carlo Ancelotti, it once more leaves Antonio Rudiger as the only available senior centre-back. Aurelien Tchouameni continued his role as an emergency stand-in during the weekend’s surprise 1-0 defeat to Espanyol, with Raul Asencio promoted to the first-team from the Castilla squad in recent months to help cover the shortfall.
Madrid opted against dipping into the window transfer market to recruit a defender, seemingly satisfied that Alaba was on his way back to full fitness. The club have even been tipped to resist bringing in a centre-back in the summer because of Militao’s faster than expected recovery.
Priority appears to be in other positions ahead of next season, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joshua Kimmich targeted as free agents, and links emerging with Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali.
