Real Madrid’s David Alaba suffers knee injury setback

Real Madrid defender David Alaba has suffered a meniscus injury in his left knee and is unlikely to feature again before the Club World Cup, Report informs via The Athletic.

Alaba is Madrid’s third defender to have been confirmed as facing a layoff on Tuesday, with left-back Ferland Mendy set to miss the rest of the season after sustaining an injury during Saturday’s 3-2 Copa del Rey final defeat by Barcelona and Antonio Rudiger expected to be sidelined for around six weeks after undergoing surgery for a meniscus tear.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side is also without long-term defensive absentees Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao.

Like Rudiger, the club expects Alaba, who will undergo minor surgery, is expected to return to selection for the revamped Club World Cup. Madrid gets their tournament underway against Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal on June 18.

32-year-old Alaba’s season has been restricted by injury problems that have limited him to just seven appearances in La Liga across 2024-25.

The Austria international started in both Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final leg defeats against Arsenal earlier this month and most recently started in the league victory at Getafe on April 23.

Alaba is now set to miss the remaining five matches of Madrid’s La Liga campaign, including a potential title-deciding match away to Barcelona on May 11.

Madrid’s current central defensive options are limited to Raul Asencio and Aurelien Tchouameni, a midfielder by trade, with Castilla defender Jacobo Ramon another option.