Real Madrid faces a defensive crisis as David Alaba has officially suffered a season-ending knee injury during their match against Villarreal on Sunday. The Austrian defender left the field visibly in pain last night. Since then he was confirmed to have a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and now it is certain that he will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Alaba was also expected to captain his country at Euro 2024 which will begin in June of next year.
La reacción de Toni Kroos tras la lesión de David Alaba 💔pic.twitter.com/t7aKwt8ypJ
— REAL MADRID ♥️ (@AdriRM33) December 18, 2023
Alaba’s absence leaves Real Madrid with limited options at center-back, relying on Antonio Rudiger and Nacho Fernandez. The potential return of Eder Militao from his own ACL tear remains highly unlikely for the second half of the season.
This setback could force Real Madrid to explore the January transfer market for a new defender unless Coach Carlo Ancelotti opts to deploy players like Mendy or Tchouameni in the center of the defensive line. The club awaits a medical report on Alaba’s injury, and decisions about reinforcements may shape their strategy going forward.
Head coach Ancelotti expressed his disappointment, stating, “It’s a shame, we are very sad. Another player has gone down.” Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao had previously suffered ACL injuries.
Real Madrid now grapples with multiple defensive challenges, and as they head into the January transfer window, securing a replacement for Alaba becomes a top priority to fortify their squad for the rest of the season.