Real Madrid have suffered from a surprisingly high number of ACL injuries over the past year. Last season, Los Blancos saw three senior players get sidelined after they ruptured their Anterior Cruciate Ligaments.
Now, with the 2024/25 season even yet to start, three exciting talents from La Fabrica have suffered the same fate while taking part in pre-season with the senior team.
After Daniel Mesonero and Cesar Palacios were sidelined by ACL injuries in the past couple of weeks, last night saw Joan Martinez also tear his ACL during a first-team training session.
It comes as a devastating blow for the 16-year-old who had gotten an opportunity in pre-season and had made a big impression on Carlo Ancelotti.
So much so that Martinez’s name was in consideration for next week’s UEFA Super Cup clash while Real Madrid were even planning to renew his contract with improved terms.
Change in transfer plans?
This summer has seen Real Madrid part ways with two central defenders in Nacho Fernandez and Rafa Marin. While Jesus Vallejo is back from loan, he has been battling fitness woes and barely featured in pre-season.
With David Alaba’s recovery also progressing much slower than anticipated, Ancelotti is left with just Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger as his frontline centre-backs with Aurelien Tchouameni as a makeshift alternative.
As such, Real Madrid were looking to sign a new defender but decided to end their pursuit after missing out on their primary target, Leny Yoro.
Indeed, Ancelotti confirmed that there will be no more signings and that the team would count on someone like Joan Martinez to cover at centre-back if needed.
However, now that the 16-year-old himself has succumbed to serious injury which will keep him out for six to seven months at the very least, Real Madrid may well be forced to change their transfer plans.
Ancelotti does have other in-house talents like Jacobo Ramon and Raul Asencio but their services might also be needed in the Castilla team and Real Madrid are fast running out of alternatives.
As such, with still three weeks left before the summer transfer window closes, the reigning champions of Spain and Europe might consider bringing in a new defender, with Al Nassr’s Aymeric Laporte very much on the agenda.