Real Madrid started their season at a peak on Tuesday with the victory over Osasuna, and one of the positives was Eder Militao. The defender, who has sustained two ACL injuries in the last two years, has been producing a strong performance at his first LA Liga performance since November.
Militao is expected to be an important player for Real Madrid this season, although Xabi Alonso may not like to overtake him because of the injury problems he has had. Antonio Rudiger comes back for the weekend trip to Real Oviedo, who will make a decision to make who plays next to Dean Huijsen.
Alonso was happy with the performance of Militao against Osasuna, but he will be wary to manage his minutes in the coming weeks. And it turns out that he gets a helping hand from his predecessor at the Santiago Bernabeu: Carlo Ancelotti.
According to El Chiringuito (via Diario AS), Ancelotti has decided not to call Militao for the two 2026 World Cup qualifications of Brazil during the International break of September against Chile and Bolivia. The decision was made to prevent the 27-year-old from being overwhelmed in the early stages of the new season.
Militao is not the only Real Madrid player that Ancelotti has decided to rely on the upcoming international break. Vinicius Junior will also stay in the Spanish capital – he will be suspended for the Chile match, and the decision has been made for him not to be risked against Bolivia.
That Bolivia match will only take place four days for the trip from Real Madrid to Real Sociedad, so it will be a large blessing for Alonso to have both players available, and at 100%, for that.