Carlo Ancelotti faced a challenging first half against Osasuna on Saturday, losing three players to injury. While Rodrygo and Lucas Vazquez were able to leave the field unaided, center-back Eder Militao had to be stretchered off after screaming in pain.
Real Madrid later confirmed that Militao suffered a complete ACL tear (his second in just 15 months) sidelining him for the rest of the season. His injury has left a serious hole in Real Madrid’s back line. Both Dani Carvajal and Aurelien Tchouameni have previously filled in as center-backs, but they too are also currently injured. Meanwhile, fellow defender David Alaba is still recovering from a similar injury he sustained in December last year and isn’t fit to make an appearance in recent games.
Los Blancos focused on attacking options in the summer transfer window, recruiting only free agent Kylian Mbappe and Endrick from the Brazilian League. They failed to sign any new defenders and even released their versatile captain Nacho Fernandez. As the defending Champions of Europe and the Spanish League, they felt their defending options was already one of the best in the world and adding to this would have been a waste of their resources. Their only defensive interest – Leny Yoro, snubbed Madrid’s offerings to get a better deal at Manchester United.
With this growing list of defensive absences, former Real Madrid midfielder Guti suggested a possible comeback for club legend Sergio Ramos, who spent 16 successful years at the Spanish capital as one of the best defenders in the World, joined PSG in 2021, and returned to Seville on a short-term deal last season. Despite being available as a free agent, Real Madrid have reportedly ruled out re-signing the 38-year-old. This could be an issue of his effectiveness at such age or the defender’s relationship with the club’s hierarchy which remains strained due to clashes with president Florentino Perez during his final years at the Bernabeu. Reports show that it was nearly a unanimous decision by the board to avoid bringing Ramos back, despite his 28 league starts last season. Instead, the club plans to bring in a new center-back in January, considering options like Aymeric Laporte, Castello Lukeba, and Jonathan Tah as their top targets.
There’s still ample time before the winter transfer window opens, which means players like Asencio and Jacobo Ramon could get their opportunities in the next two months of competition. However, this hasn’t stopped the club from exploring potential transfers. The January transfer window would be a busy one for Madrid, who laid hands off player recruitment in the summer. These injuries comes with their own aftermath as most players fail to reach their previous peak after going under the knife or being sidelined for a long time. Most first-team players have also found themselves in a possible trade decision. The club is already contemplating the sale of 24-year-old midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, who joined from AS Monaco for €80m in 2022. The Frech midfielder has found it difficult to adapt since Toni Kroos’ departure. Madrid are reportedly willing to listen to offers, and Liverpool, who have previously shown interest, could consider making a move if the opportunity presents itself.
Aymeric Laporte has emerged as one of Real Madrid’s top targets this January. It’s no surprise showing the experience he brings to the team, having won six Premier League titles with Manchester City and recently playing in Spain’s European Championship-winning squad. The 30-year-old spent the last year with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
In contrast, RB Leipzig’s Lukeba is a younger option for Los Blancos and Carlo Ancelotti who is known to recruit and transform fresh bloods. The 21-year-old Frenchman has been linked to Madrid before but recently extended his contract with a £75m buyout clause. Negotiating his signature will be a tough call on the Galacticos. Jonathan Tah, the reigning Bundesliga champion with Bayer Leverkusen, is another potential candidate. He is considered one of the most appealing centre-backs for the 2025 summer market, and has left the door open to new opportunities according to his agent. With his contract expiring in the summer, Madrid could potentially secure his signing in January to fend off competition from Bayern Munich and interested Premier League clubs.
Real Madrid haven’t forgone their interest in Arsenal’s William Saliba. Rumors of the club’s interest in Saliba are not new, with the 25-times capped France international long being seen as a prime target for the Spanish giants. Initial plans from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez aimed at signing Saliba in the summer of 2025, but these have been brought forward due to the recent season-ending knee injury suffered by Eder Militao. Arsenal are reportedly speeding up efforts to pin William Saliba on a new contract, as Real Madrid have moved up their plans to sign him in the January transfer window. The 23-year-old center-back, who is just two games away from reaching 100 appearances for Arsenal, has proven to be one of the club’s best investments under former sporting director Edu. He was signed for £27m from St Etienne in 2019, and has developed into one of the top defenders in world football. His current contract sees him earn around £190,000 per week and it runs until the summer of 2027. The club wants to extend it further due to the progress he has made and the interest from both Real Madrid and PSG.
Real Madrid Women Trash Twente In The UCL
Real Madrid showcased a dominant performance with six different players finding the back of the net in their 7-0 thrashing of Twente in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday. They replicated fellow Spanish side Barcelona’s victory against SKN St. Polten W. Signe Bruun set the tone early in the Group B match at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, scoring just three minutes into the game. Maria Mendez then doubled Madrid’s lead with a lovely header in the sixteenth minute to make it 2-0 by halftime. Madrid extended their lead with Naomie Feller’s goal five minutes into the second half. Caroline Weir added a fourth with a stunning free-kick.
Mendez secured her second goal of the match shortly after the hour mark, while late strikes from Oihane Hernandez and Carla Camacho sealed the emphatic win. This victory lifted Madrid to second place in the Group B standings following Chelsea’s 2-1 win against Celtic. After losing their first game to Chelsea Women, they beat Celtic 4-0 to claim the qualification spot in the Group. Real Madrid women now need at least three points to get them into the knockout stages of the women’s Champions League.
Real Madrid Tickets!
Los Blancos pursuit of success in defending their domestic and European titles this season is inspiring. They refuse to give up easily and will see each battle to the very end. They sit points away from Barcelona in the Spanish League and even fewer points out of the Top 8 position in the UCL League phase. While Kylian Mbappe still struggles to find his fit, Vinicius Jnr has remained the club’s talisman, propelling them to victory in the toughest encounters.
Securing fast-selling Real Madrid tickets has become a hot topic since they showed signs of a resurgence. Official sites may lack available and exclusive tickets. Buy tickets from trusted reseller platforms which are your go-to solution for swift access to these coveted Real Madrid tickets. With their bitter sweet victory over Osasuna, the club will struggle to find defensive solutions until the transfer window opens in January.
Comments