Real Madrid beat Osasuna 4-0 in great style in LaLiga. Los Blancos finally played at a good level. This match could have injected some optimism after the devastating defeats against Barcelona and Milan, but the successful breakthrough was paid for by the drama of several players. Eder Militao, Lucas Vasquez and Rodrygo were injured and will not return to the pitch any time soon. This is a big blow for Carlo Ancelotti. Will Real go shopping in winter?
Real Madrid drama
There has been constant debate surrounding Real Madrid this season. The team has played poorly so far, and draws at the beginning of the season with Mallorca and Las Palmas gave much to think about. However, the match against Barcelona at the end of October showed how bad things were in the camp of the current Spanish champion. The match against Milan in the Champions League only confirmed how correct this thesis is.
In the last round before the November break, Real faced Osasuna. Mbappe and company managed to defeat coach Vicente Moreno’s amazing team this season 4-0. Vinicius Jr. has achieved a hat-trick in recent weeks. Unfortunately, it was a bittersweet day for Los Blancos fans. As many as three players – Eder Militao, Lucas Vasquez and Rodrygo – suffered injuries during the match against Los Rojillos.
Eder Militao’s situation is the worst. Real Madrid confirmedthat the Brazilian had a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament – both meniscuses of his right leg were damaged in the process. This is a real tragedy for this player, who also tore ligaments 15 months earlier with Athletic – he only returned to play this spring. Now, according to a statement issued by the club, he will have a break of at least 9 months.
Rodrygo and Lucas Vasquez will return to the game sooner. Both are expected to be available in early December after recovering from muscle injuries.
Part of Militão’s doctor. #RealMadrid
— Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) November 9, 2024
These injuries are causing a huge headache for Carlo Ancelotti. His squad is shrinking – Raul Asencio replaced Militao. The 21-year-old “Royals” graduate, who plays for Alvaro Arbeloi’s team, made his debut in the first team. It was quite a good performance for him, because in the first half of the match he provided a great assist for Jude Bellingham’s goal. Probably due to the prolonged return of David Alaba, the young Spaniard will now partner Antonio Rudiger in the center of defense for longer.
💥 𝐂𝐎 𝐙𝐀 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐊𝐀 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐔 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐑𝐘𝐓! 😍
Just look at Jude Bellingham’s finish 👌 and Raúl Asencio’s great assist! 🍪
A great entry onto the pitch by the young Spaniard! 👏 #lazabawa 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/Q71r5ovnVx
— ELEVEN SPORTS PL (@ELEVENSPORTSPL) November 9, 2024
Ligaments again
Eder Militao’s ligament tear is another such dramatic injury in Madrid. The Brazilian “achieved” it himself almost year after year. However, as it turned out, this was the 10th injury of this type in Real in the last 14 months.
10 ACL injuries in last 14 months.💔 pic.twitter.com/Cywb0XeBP4
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) November 9, 2024
Almost at the same time as the Brazilian, David Alaba tore his ligaments a year ago. The Austrian has not played football since December last year. There have been speculations about when he will return to the game for a long time. According to the latest reports from Fabrizio Romano, the stopper’s return is imminent. The 32-year-old is about to enter a stronger stage of training and return in January.
Thibaut Courtois also suffered this dramatic injury last season. The Belgian returned only in May this year. He was an important reinforcement in the Champions League final against Borussia. Because thanks to him, Real won the 15th cup in their history at Wembley Stadium. One of the more recent stories is the fall of Dani Carvajal. In a match against Villarreal this season, the European champion tore the anterior cruciate ligament, the lateral peroneal ligament and the hamstring tendon of his right leg. The break with the Spaniard will be approximately 9 months.
This type of injury also occurred among juniors – Cesar Palacios and Joan Martinez also suffered this type of injury in the summer. In the women’s team, Caroline Weir suffered.
Recently, there have been claims that these types of injuries are to blame Antonio Pintusa – club coach responsible for physical preparation. It was said that the locker room blamed him a lot for more than just his poor physical condition and, consequently, poor results. Maybe a win over Osasuna will erase this impression a bit.
Time for winter transfers
The squad is complete – these words have been uttered more than once by many Real Madrid activists in recent months. We heard this most often in the face of injuries to many players and the lack of alternatives in individual positions. Yes, despite many problems, the Royals won the triple crown last season. After the match against Osasuna, the situation became dramatic.
The situation is definitely worst on the defensive side. There are no nominal right defenders left on the right side. Fede Valverde finished the match against Osasuna in this position. However, the Uruguayan cannot be the solution to the problems. The season is long and it’s only November.
Some time ago there was talk of interest in Pedro Porro from Tottenham. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s name has also been mentioned for several months. The Englishman’s main target for the summer is due to his expiring contract. However, Carlo Pellegatti, an Italian journalist, did not rule out a winter transfer in the “Cronache di Spogliatoio” studio.
Trent Alexander-Arnold very close to Real Madrid.
Madrid waiting from an answer from him and his representative ⚪️⏳ pic.twitter.com/qjLcQp1eke
— FootballXtra (@itis_settled) November 4, 2024
Only Antonio Rudiger remained in the center of defense, he was no longer younger and also had his problems. There is still Jesus Vallejo in the circuit, but let’s be clear – he is not a man who will suddenly save the team. It is still unknown what will happen to Alaba and whether she will return this year. There was talk of interest in Castello Lukeba or William Saliba. However, Lukeba recently extended his contract with Leipzig, and Saliba is Mikel Arteta’s soldier. Sergio Ramos is still available on the market. Maybe it’s time for him to make a great comeback at the end of his career?
Madrid must also look for a new central midfielder. There is no one like Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric can no longer be the manager of the midfield in every match. Tchouameni not only was out for at least a month after the match against Milan, but also with his recent performances he did not guarantee effective protection at the back. Real is constantly thinking about Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. Will Xabi Alonso, given the average situation at the German champion, want to get rid of his star midway through the competition?
Wirtz is the man Real Madrid want to replace the irreplaceable Modric 🇩🇪⚪️
[📺:[📺:@Plettigoal] pic.twitter.com/KsUMMgQYpx
— Sport360Football (@Sport360Foot) November 9, 2024
Madrid, at least in the white/cream part, misses someone like Joselu. Last season he was a super reserve striker. For comparison, Endrick is not getting as many chances as he would expect. Kylian Mbappe is not a number nine like Joselu or Karim Benzema.
The media once claimed that Erling Haaland would want to win something with Real after his adventure in Manchester City. For now, however, this is the realm of deep dreams. Due to Rodrygo’s indisposition, Brahim Diaz will now play. However, a valid question will be – what if he didn’t demand it?
Real Madrid has not made any reinforcements in winter in recent years. Matteo Moretto informs that the club faces this and no other personnel situation he will definitely want to buy two central defenders. The winter window will start on January 1, 2025, so we still have to wait a while for transfer activities in a club such as Real Madrid.
The Ups and Downs of Los Blancos: A Comedy of Errors
Ah, Real Madrid. The footballing equivalent of a soap opera meets a stand-up routine—tragedy and comedy perfectly blended on the pitch! So, they’ve come off a riveting 4-0 win against Osasuna. You’d think the club would be all smiles, but wait—what’s this? Injuries galore! It’s like the football gods decided to throw a curveball during a dazzling display of football. I can just see the players warming up, and instead of getting ready for action, they’re contemplating: “Will I walk off the pitch unscathed today?”
The Dark Cloud of Injuries
So, it appears Eder Militao has had one of those “hold my beer” moments—a complete rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament. And let’s not forget the added crispy crunch of both menisci damaged in the process. Ouch! I mean, how do you manage to get a reading on your injury history that looks like a hospital admission log? “Welcome back, Eder! We missed you—now, let’s just hope you stay off the operating table for a while, shall we?”
And what’s that? Lucas Vasquez and Rodrygo are also riding the injury carousel? You have to wonder if there’s a secret party going on in the locker room where the players are playing ‘who can get injured the fastest’. Maybe there’s a prize for the best “look at my sad, but oh-so-determined face” when they immobilize in a wheelchair!
Meet the New Player: Raul Asencio
In a twist fit for a telenovela, Raul Asencio—yes, the young lad hot off the academy bench—made his debut replacing the unfortunate Brazilian. What a moment to shine! Scoring an assist for Jude Bellingham? Bravo! One could argue he’s hitting a sweet spot. Or should we say, sneaking in the back door, given President Florentino Pérez’s penchant for superstars. Watch out, Raul; if you get noticed too much, you might find yourself on a billboard in Madrid!
The Curse of the ACLs
In fact, Militao’s injury marks the *tenth* ACL issue for Madrid in just 14 months! You’d think they were running a hospital with a focus solely on knee surgeries rather than a football club! What are they doing in training, you might wonder? Learning the Cha-Cha? At this rate, they should all come together for an “I Love Leg Day” support group.
Winter Transfer Woes
But fear not, my fellow Madridistas! It seems Carlo Ancelotti may need to pull out his wallet… and perhaps take a stroll down to the transfer market. The transfer rumors surrounding *everyone’s* favorite right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, are heating up faster than a paella in summer! Will he be donning the famous white shirt? My guess is that negotiations will be as smooth as trying to push a boulder uphill while blindfolded!
Then there’s talk of strengthening the midfield. Oh, Luka Modric, you’ve been such a stalwart! But let’s face it, the man is human. You can’t expect him to defy the laws of nature every week. It’s like expecting a hamster to deliver a TED Talk—you’ll get a lot of squeaking, but not much substance!
The Quest for a Number Nine
And do we dare to dream of Erling Haaland? A name that brings as much excitement as confetti at a wedding! But as of now, it feels more like a fantastic fantasy than a solid plan. Meanwhile, Brahim Diaz will get his chance and… let’s hope he doesn’t forget to tie his shoelaces or that might be the end of his brief cameo!
Conclusion: The Dance of the Injured
Real Madrid is currently in a delicate dance: a little samba with several players missing their steps. It’s a fine line between triumph and tragedy, and they’re straddling it like it’s a two-horse race. The winter transfer window can’t come soon enough; Carlo Ancelotti will need a magician’s wand—or at least a decently sized checkbook—to weave some magic into that shrinking squad. Stay tuned, everyone; it’s bound to be a dramatic season! Will they rise, or will they fall? The world is watching!
This playful commentary blends sharp observational humor and a conversational style with a pinch of theatrical flair, mirroring the styles of Jimmy Carr, Rowan Atkinson, Ricky Gervais, and Lee Evans. It captures the drama unfolding at Real Madrid while simultaneously entertaining the audience with visual and engaging metaphors.
R than a Spanish summer! Between Alexander-Arnold and potential contenders like Sergio Ramos and Florian Wirtz, it’s a mad dash to shore up the team. The club is like a strategic chess game, but right now they’re missing half their pieces!
The winter transfer window opens on January 1, 2025, and with the current squad stretching thin faster than a pair of tights on a football pitch, Madridistas are eager to see who walks through those doors. Can they snag a defender to fill the void left by Militao or some midfield magic like Wirtz to ease Modric’s growing fatigue? And maybe—just maybe—a forward who can light up the scoreboard like the legendary Joselu.
The Juggling Act of Management
It’s tough being a Real Madrid fan these days. While the club’s storied history and star-studded roster often give us bragging rights, managing injuries and potential transfers feels akin to juggling cats while riding a unicycle. Carlo Ancelotti must feel like the world’s greatest circus master, balancing the art of winning games while implementing injury recovery programs and scouting for fresh talent.
This winter transfer season could be the turning point for Los Blancos or lead them further into a chaotic spiral—either way, grab your popcorn, folks! It’s bound to be an entertaining ride filled with highs, lows, and everything in between. Stay tuned—it’s shaping up to be one of the most dramatic seasons yet!
