Last season was an immensely successful one for Real Madrid, more so when one considers the fact that they lost three very important players to ACL injuries during the course of the campaign.
Two of those stars – Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois – who were injured at the onset of the season were able to make comebacks in the final stages and contibute to the La Liga and UEFA Champions League double triumph.
David Alaba, meanwhile, suffered an ACL rupture in December and was touted to return for the start of the new campaign.
Earlier reports suggested that the Austrian defender intended to test himself during the pre-season friendlies in the USA. But things might not be as positive as they seem.
Indeed, according to reports from the Austrian media, as relayed by AS, Alaba’s return to action at Real Madrid might end up getting delayed until 2025.
As per the reports in Austria, Alaba is still having some mobility issues, with the defender said to have found it hard to climb some stairs.
It has been more than 200 days since his injury and he has still been unable to go for a run when it is reportedly normal in these cases to do so between 100 and 120 days after suffering the ACL rupture.
In addition, Alaba’s knee cartilage is affected, which is why his recovery will be slower.
As such, Austrian media reports suggest that Alaba’s most likely return date is set for 2025. If that forecast is met, his time out would be a year which is not entirely out of the norm for an ACL injury, although Courtois and Militao were back in seven months.
Real Madrid recognise that of the three cruciate ligament injuries their players suffered last season, Alaba’s is the most serious and, therefore, the one that will be the slowest and most complicated to recover from.
The ex-Bayern Munich ace has not yet been seen running on the pitch, he is still working on muscle-building in the gym and has been part of Austria’s coaching staff at the EURO 2024.
No timetable has been set for his return at the moment, as Alaba has been out of the Madrid doctors’ sight for some time; the team’s return to training, scheduled for 15 July at Valdebebas, will be used to assess the progress of the injury.
As far as Madrid are concerned, there is no need to sound any alarm bells, but in Austria, it is being suggested that Alaba could be still a long way away from returning.