Real Madrid defender David Alaba has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a meniscus tear during the club’s 3-2 Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona on Saturday.
Alaba, who has Nigerian roots through his father, is the third Real Madrid defender to be sidelined within a 24-hour period, compounding the club’s growing defensive crisis.
The 32-year-old joins Antonio Rudiger and Ferland Mendy on a lengthening injury list that poses a significant challenge to the club’s ambitions this season.
Medical assessments confirmed that Alaba will require surgery to address the knee injury.
The procedure will rule him out for the rest of the current campaign, leaving manager Carlo Ancelotti without one of his most experienced and versatile defensive options as Real Madrid push for the La Liga title.
Despite the setback, both the player and the club remain optimistic about his recovery timeline.
There is cautious hope that Alaba could return in time for the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off in June.
That tournament represents a major target for the Spanish giants, and Alaba’s potential availability would offer a much-needed boost.
Real Madrid now face a crucial few weeks as they attempt to navigate their LaLiga title run-in without three of their key defenders.
