Real Madrid's defensive line continues to suffer from the injury crisis that has plagued it over the past two seasons, putting Portuguese coach José Mourinho in a difficult position ahead of the start of preparations for the new season, after finding himself without any first-team center-back available for the first friendly match against Fiorentina.
Ongoing crisis
The center-back position has become one of Real Madrid's most prominent weaknesses in recent years, with the crisis beginning to worsen since the 2024-2025 season, when the team lost three of its key defensive players in a short period.
Brazilian Éder Militão was the first victim, after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear along with damage to the knee's meniscus cartilage in November 2024, before David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger followed at the end of the season, after both suffered injuries to the meniscus cartilage of the left knee within days of each other.
Those injuries caused the collapse of Real Madrid's defensive options, forcing Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti at the time to seek temporary solutions by relying on Aurélien Tchouaméni in the center-back position during various periods, alongside promoting Raúl Asencio from Castilla and giving opportunities to the young Jacobo Ramón.
However, the crisis found no solution in the following season, despite the club's attempts to improve the situation within the medical staff, after signing Nico Mihic in early January to take up the new medical supervisor position, just days before Xabi Alonso's departure.
Despite these changes, the backline's suffering continued, as Militão suffered a new injury consisting of a severe tear in the biceps femoris muscle, requiring him to undergo surgery and still following a recovery program to this day.
Alaba also suffered a series of setbacks due to calf muscle problems, while Rüdiger was absent for a long period of up to two months due to muscular pain and knee issues, forcing him to travel to London for special treatment under the supervision of a specialist.
The German defender underwent a rehabilitation program that included injections and precise physical work under the supervision of his private team, before returning to the pitch, although his physical condition requires careful management and not overloading him with a large number of matches.
Young defender Dean Huijsen, who recently joined Real Madrid, was not spared from the injury curse, as physical problems prevented him from participating in 13 matches during his first season in the royal club's jersey.
Defensive predicament before the start of the season
This crisis casts its shadow over the start of Mourinho's new project with Real Madrid, after the Portuguese coach discovered before the first friendly test against Fiorentina that he had no ready center-back from the first team.
Huijsen is absent due to some physical discomfort, keeping him in the Spanish capital, while Raúl Asencio suffered a rectus femoris muscle injury that will sideline him for 4 to 6 weeks, causing him to miss the entire preparation period.
Ibrahima Konaté has also not yet joined the team, due to receiving a rest period after participating in the World Cup, with his return expected tomorrow, Sunday, while Rüdiger, who returned only days ago, needs to regain his physical fitness.
As for Militão, he continues his long recovery journey, with expectations that he will not return for several months.
Mourinho demands a quick solution
Under these circumstances, Mourinho will be forced to rely on the young duo Lamine Fati and Joan Martínez to lead the defensive line, the same partnership with which Castilla competed in last season's matches during its fight for promotion.
This situation grants the young duo a golden opportunity to prove their abilities, but at the same time it reflects the scale of the crisis Real Madrid is experiencing in this position and its urgent need for strong defensive reinforcement.
According to the Spanish newspaper "Marca", based on the current situation, Mourinho has requested that the royal club's management sign a new center-back, despite the signing of Ibrahima Konaté.
The newspaper explained that the Portuguese coach has believed since his arrival in Madrid that the center-back position needs reinforcement with a world-class player, especially with ongoing doubts regarding the physical condition of the current players.
However, concluding a new deal requires the departure of one of the players, and here Raúl Asencio's name emerges as the most likely candidate to leave the team during the summer.
Real Madrid wants to sell Asencio in order to free up space in the squad and finance the signing of a world-class defender, and although his recent injury may affect the timing of the process, it does not significantly alter the club's plans.
August will be decisive in this file, as the future of Real Madrid's defense depends on the club's ability to resolve the crisis that has remained open for more than two years and restore stability to a backline plagued by recurring injuries.