Eder Militao to have surgery after ACL rupture

Real Madrid defender Eder Militao will undergo surgery after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in Saturday's 4-0 LaLiga win over Osasuna, and is expected to miss many months for the second straight season, according to the LaLiga club.

The Brazilian centre defender was in tears as he was carried off the field after hyperextending his knee while trying to connect on a rebound early in the game.

Militao, 26, becomes the second Real Madrid player to suffer an ACL injury this season, following full back Dani Carvajal.

"Following tests carried out today on our player Eder Militao by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament with involvement of both menisci in his right leg. Militao will undergo surgery in the coming days," Real Madrid said in a statement.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti stated on Saturday that he will be forced to rely on the club's youth academy players to fill in as injuries continue to plague the La Liga and Champions League holders.

In addition to Militao, full back Lucas Vazques and forward Rodrygo joined Real's long injury list on Saturday, and Ancelotti stated that he will hunt for answers within the club until the transfer window opens in January.

Real were already without crucial players Dani Carvajal, Thibaut Courtois, Aurelien Tchouameni, and David Alaba, and the absence of Vazquez and Militao would leave them with only Antonio Ruediger, Ferland Mendy, and Fran Gracia as experienced defenders in their senior squad.

SportsLigue