Real Madrid star undergoes surgery – expected to miss nine months

Real Madrid defender Eder Militao has undergone his second knee operation in consecutive seasons after going down during a match against Osasuna two weekends ago. The Brazilian is again at the beginning of the road to recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Militao underwent knee surgery in the Spanish capital on Tuesday, which was successful. Diario AS says he will be back in about nine months. He is highly unlikely to be seen again this season despite returning after just seven months off from the same injury last season. The timing means that the aim is to be fit again for the start of the pre-season in 2025.

Los Blancos are in a difficult situation due to his injury. With David Alaba still not back from his own knee problems, Antonio Rudiger is currently the only centre-back available. Jesus Vallejo cannot be trusted with points at stake, and it appears Castile's Raul Asencio will be asked to step up. Once he recovers towards the end of the month, Aurelien Tchouameni is expected to fill in as a defender for much of the remainder of the season.