'It breaks my heart' - Real Madrid star hints at 'more serious than normal' injury for Eder Militao amid fears of another ACL rupture after defender is stretchered off

Madrid may have celebrated a comprehensive 4-0 win over Osasuna, with Vinicius Jr. scoring a hat-trick and Jude Bellingham adding another goal, but the victory was tainted by injury scares involving Militao and Rodrygo. Both players were forced to exit the pitch in tears during the early stages of the game, casting a shadow over an otherwise impressive performance by Los Blancos.

Rodrygo was the first to fall, clutching his heavily-strapped thigh as he limped off the pitch. Shortly after, Militao went down in what appeared to be excruciating pain, suffering an injury eerily similar to Dani Carvajal’s recent ACL issue against Villarreal. This latest setback has left fans and players deeply concerned as the club fears that Militao could have suffered another anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. It would be his second in little over a year, having previously ruptured his left ACL during a match against Athletic Club in August 2023.

Speaking to Real Madrid TV after the match, Brahim Diaz shared his sympathy for his injured team-mates, expressing just how distressing it is to witness fellow players suffer.

"I don't want to touch on this subject, because it hurts me to see teammates cry. It breaks my heart," he said, going on to discuss Militao. "He comes from a long injury and it's up to them, and it seems that it could be more serious than normal... we will miss him."

Militao's departure forced Madrid to call upon academy defender Raul Asencio to forge a partnership with Antonio Rudiger at the heart of defence. The injuries to Militao and Rodrygo come at a time when Madrid’s squad is already stretched thin. Carvajal has been ruled out for the season with his own ACL tear, while midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois are expected to remain on the sidelines until at least December. Furthermore, David Alaba, who suffered a knee injury last year, has yet to fully recover, depriving coach Carlo Ancelotti of critical depth in defence.

Militao is set to undergo medical examinations in the coming days, and while Madrid hope for positive news, initial signs point to another long spell on the sidelines for the Brazilian centre-back. Given the team’s current injury predicament, the absence of such a vital defensive figure could impact Madrid’s season and it remains to be seen if they dip into the winter market to sign reinforcements for the business end of the campaign.