Fans of Real Madrid are hopeful Eder Militao will be fit to play part in their FIFA Club World Cup campaign.
The Brazilian international was included in the traveling team from Xabi Alonso to the US and his rehabilitation remains on schedule.
All parties have remained careful when the 27-year-old is ready for a complete return due to the severity of the injury and the length of his absence.
Militao has been sidelined since November after the second ACL injury to his career.
The former Porto defender tore his ACL in the opening match of the 2023/24 season and missed the remaining nine months of the campaign.
Frustration struck again in the opening months of 2024/25, but his recovery was shorter, with less damage this time.
Alonso's call to include him in the traveling team was more than just a gesture, Militao fully trains with the team and works on a return.
The temptation to give him some playing time will be weighed against the long -term impact, but Alonso is open to the idea if the club's doctors offer the green light.
The arrival of Dean Huijsen has put more pressure on his position, in addition to a contract extension for Raul Asencio, as the pair fights with Militao to partner Antonio Rudiger.
In anticipation of Real Madrid's tournament opener against Al Hilal on June 18, Militao's personal trainer Romario Queiroz said with Diario as a mixed update about his comeback.
“I was in Madrid on the day of the injury, and the first 24 hours were very difficult. But Eer surprised me with how he dealt with the second injury.
“The next day he told me: 'I have experienced this before, I know how to deal with it. Let's get started!
“We cannot skip phases to speed up the process. We must gradually continue. It is possible that he returns to the level he has already shown in a Real Madrid shirt.
“With such a big demand for competitions and less recovery time, however, the trend is for more injuries, as was the case with Eder.”