- Camavinga suffered a knee injury in France training while on international duty
- Midfielder has headed back to Madrid for scans and joins long list of injured Blancos stars
- Manager Carlo Ancelotti is now particularly light in midfield
Real Madrid have had a dreadful season with injuries so far in 2023/24, which has only been exacerbated by Eduardo Camavinga picking up an issue while on international duty with France during the November international break.
The midfielder was forced to withdraw from the Bleus team after taking a blow in training, with early indications suggesting he will be out for months.
Camavinga is a player Carlo Ancelotti does not want to be without because of his flexibility and desire to play wherever he is asked. It also comes less than two weeks after he agreed to a new deal with Real Madrid.
Here’s all we’ve learned so far regarding Camavinga’s injury and what it means for Madrid and France.
When will Eduardo Camavinga return from injury?
Camavinga has been an important player for Real Madrid this season, appearing in 13 of the team’s 17 games. Only two of these starts have been at left back, showing that Ancelotti now regards the Frenchman as one of his best midfielders.
After departing France’s training session, Camavinga went for scans with the team doctor. According to the French Football Federation (FFF), he returned to Madrid after sustaining a sprain to his right knee. Following an MRI at Valdebebas, Madrid revealed that he had torn a more serious knee ligament.
According to a press release, “After the tests carried out today on our player Eduardo Camavinga by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a rupture of the external lateral ligament in his right knee.”
According to local reports, he might be out for more than a month, missing Madrid’s last two Champions League group stage games, as well as La Liga fixtures against Cadiz, Granada, Real Betis, Villarreal, and Alaves.
The most likely timeline for resuming first-team training and games in 2024 is eight to ten weeks.
How many injuries do Real Madrid have?
Madrid are now dealing with a huge injury issue, with a number of players who would ordinarily start the biggest games on the sidelines.
Nine players are out injured, practically all of whom might be regular starters. Some are minor, with Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler both expected to return shortly. Kepa Arrizabalaga should also return to full fitness soon to avert a goalkeeping emergency.
Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni, Camavinga, Vinicius Junior, and Dani Ceballos are all out. With an injury-free team, at least five of those players would be in Madrid’s best starting XI.
The absences of Tchouameni and Camavinga will give Toni Kroos and Luka Modric a lot more playing time, something the veterans have been requesting all season.
However, the problem may not worsen since Madrid recently fired chief medical officer Niko Mihic, particularly for his treatment of Guler’s injury recuperation.