Carlo Ancelotti hints at January signings for Real Madrid after David Alaba's horrible ACL injury against Villarreal limits defensive options

Alaba's knee ailment caused him to be substituted out of Real Madrid's 4-1 La Liga victory over Villarreal in the first half. Alaba's anterior cruciate ligament tear was promptly verified by Real Madrid at full-time, and the Austrian international is scheduled to have surgery in the following days. Carlo Ancelotti stated that Eder Militao is unlikely to play again this season and that the team would look into whether "something can be done" with respect to a centre-back signing in the January transfer window.

Speaking after the match, Ancelotti said [via Marca]: "I have not spoken to him. The medical side says he has a crossover injury. It's a shame, we're very sad because another player falls. I've never been over from having three crusaders in a few months. What the team has to do is hold on as we have. We've done more than people expected. Despite the problems, this team holds on. We'll see in the next few days if we can do anything [in the transfer window]."

The home team prevailed at the Santiago Bernabeu with goals from Jude Bellingham, Rodrigo Goes, Ibrahim Diaz, and Luka Modric, against the sole goal from Jose Luis Morales for the visitors. Villarreal stayed in fourteenth in the La Liga table with 16 points, while Los Blancos rose to the top of the Spanish League table with 42 points.

With Alaba set to undergo surgery soon and Militao already confirmed out, Nacho and Antonio Rudiger remain the only natural first-team centre-backs for Ancelotti. Therefore, the club delving into the transfer market in January seems certain.