Real Madrid dealt fresh injury blow as star defender picks up knock while on international duty: Reports

Real Madrid have reportedly suffered another injury blow after defender Eder Militao was forced out of the game between Brazil and Tunisia in Lille. The 27-year-old became the latest Los Blancos star after Kylian Mbappe, Eduardo Camavinga, and Dean Huijsen to suffer a physical problem on international duty.

Militao was included in the starting XI for the Selecao, partnering Marquinhos at centre-back after he starting at right-back against Senegal. The Real Madrid ace lasted just 57 minutes before he appeared to injure his adductor, as per AS (via Madrid Universal), and came off. He gingerly took his place on the bench and watched the remainder of the proceedings.

Carlo Ancelotti's side lost Gabriel Magalhaes to a similar injury in their win over Senegal, with the Arsenal man lasting just 49 minutes. Eder Militao felt the pain in his thigh within the opening minutes of the game but soldiered on until the pain became unbearable.

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso will be disappointed by the injury to Militao, who has been one of his key defensive players this season. The Brazil international has come back from two nightmarish seasons of injuries to find his feet again, and will be hopeful of a quick return to action.

Mbappe left the France camp after their first game while both Camavinga and Huijsen did not feature for their respective countries this month. All three players are expected to make a quick return to action, but Militao may face a longer spell out injured. The defender will undergo tests once he returns to the club to determine the extent of his injury.

Former Real Madrid star provides advice to Brazil international

Former Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz has advised Brazilian prodigy Endrick to consider leaving the Spanish giants. The Dominican Republic international enjoyed two stints at the Bernabeu before leaving the club in 2023.

Diaz spoke with The Athletic about his time at Real Madrid, drawing parallels to the situation 19-year-old striker Endrick. He pointed out that the teenage star will benefit greatly from leaving the Spanish giants for more minutes, and the club could end up re-signing him.

“If Endrick ends up leaving, or a player who isn’t getting much playing time has to go abroad to play, I would tell him to enjoy it a lot, to appreciate that if he’s going to be a starter on the team, that’s the best thing that can happen to him. You have to try to prove yourself when they give you that confidence, because it’s not the same when you play a few minutes every three games. You can’t prove your worth in a few minutes. But if they trust you and you’re a starter, that’s when you can prove a lot of things. In this case, if he (Endrick) leaves, he could also return to Madrid", he said.

Alaves star Mariano Diaz was part of the side that won the UEFA Champions League under Zinedine Zidane in the 2016-17 season. He left for Olympique Lyon and enjoyed a fine season, which prompted Real Madrid to re-sign him in 2018.