Real Madrid have confirmed that centre-back David Alaba ruptured his ACL in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Villarreal.
Alaba went down late in the first half of the game and it was quickly feared that he may have suffered a serious issue.
Confirming his ACL tear after the game, Madrid said in a statement: “After the tests carried out on our player David Alaba, he has been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
“The player will undergo surgery in the coming days.”
Alaba becomes the third Real Madrid player to pick up an ACL injury this season after Thibaut Courtois and fellow defender Eder Militao.
“The medical report says that he has a cruciate injury,” manager Carlo Ancelotti said after the game. “It’s a shame, we are very sad because another player goes down. I have never had three ACL injuries in just a few months.
“What the team has to do is hold on like we have done. We have done more than people expected. Despite the problems, this team endures. We will see in the next few days if something can be done [in the transfer market].”
While Ancelotti is keen to sign a new defender to help soften the blow, he highlighted Aurelien Tchouameni’s ability to offer emergency cover at the back, having already had to turn to the Frenchman earlier this season.
“Tchouameni is the first option for centre-back,” Ancelotti confirmed. “It’s not what we think of him, but in this moment of emergency, he can play there.”
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