At this family sized international break, Real Madrid sit not in first, or even second in the La Liga table. Los Blancos aren’t even in third place either. They’re actually fourth, and already six points adrift of their El Clasico rivals. Much like their arch-nemesis, FC Barcelona, they have exactly four injury concerns: Federico Valverde, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo and Eder Militao.
So it’s not a fitness crisis or anything like that, holding Jose Mourinho’s side back right now.
It’s going to take time to get the squad adjusted from the style of Xabi Alonso to Mourinho. And while it is early still, it is not that early. The Spanish top flight has already seen seven matches transpire this term.
Anyway, let’s look at their quartet of injuries and break them all down.
Federico Valverde
The newest edition to the Real Madrid infirmary, he suffered a grade three left ankle sprain in the Madrid derby defeat this past weekend. However, his injury comes at just the right time.
And he is expected to potentially be fit to feature in the home match against Villarreal on October 10.
Ferland Mendy
Mendy is recovering from a tendon rupture, and he is expected to miss most of the season. He could still be back by April, but we’ll just have to see how he progresses. He suffered the injury towards the end of last season.
Rodrygo
The winger is still recovering from a cruciate ligament problem, a serious injury that he suffered in March.
Eder Militao
He’s battliing a Biceps femoris tendon tear, but should be back by some point before November, or at worst, early November.
Squad Injury Updates: September/October International Break
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Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.