Courtois ruptures ligament and should not return to play for Real until 2024

the goalkeeper Thibaut Courtoisof Real Madrid, suffered a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will have to undergo surgery in the next few days. The prediction is that the Belgian, one of the great stars of the team commanded by coach Carlo Ancelotti, will only play again in five or seven months.

The news comes two days before Real Madrid’s debut in the 2023/2024 season, scheduled for Saturday, in a duel with Athletic Bilbao, for the first round of the Spanish Championship. Courtois’ immediate reserve is Lunin, 24, from Ukraine, who made just nine appearances last season.

According to the Spanish press, the 31-year-old Belgian was injured during training on Friday. Since signing from Chelsea in 2018, he has become a Real Madrid mainstay. He was decisive in the Champions League title campaign of the 2021/2022 season and essential for the conquests of two Spanish championships and a Copa del Rey.

As the period for recovery is long, the Meringue board can resort to the market to fill the important absence. At the end of last season, the club even negotiated with David Soria, Getafe’s goalkeeper. De Gea, who has been without a club since leaving Manchester United, has also been rumored to be an option.