Real Madrid’s defensive rebuild faces decisive August as Mourinho assesses centre-back options

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has asked the club to sign another high-quality centre-back after injuries left him without an available first-team player in that position for the opening pre-season friendly against Fiorentina.

The situation has created an immediate problem for Mourinho as he begins his new project in Madrid, while also highlighting a defensive weakness that has affected Real Madrid for more than two years.

The crisis first intensified during the 2024-25 season, when the Spanish club lost three of its main central defenders in a short period.

Eder Militao was the first to suffer a serious injury, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and damaging the meniscus in his knee in November 2024. David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger then sustained injuries to the meniscus in their left knees within days of one another towards the end of the campaign.

The loss of those players badly reduced Real Madrid’s defensive options. Former manager Carlo Ancelotti was forced to use Aurelien Tchouameni as a centre-back at various points, while Raul Asencio was promoted from Castilla and young defender Jacobo Ramon was also given opportunities.

The difficulties continued into the following season, despite attempts to improve the club’s medical structure. Real Madrid appointed Nico Mihic as its new medical supervisor at the start of January, only days before Xabi Alonso’s departure.

Militao suffered another setback when he sustained a serious hamstring injury. The Brazilian required surgery and remains involved in a lengthy rehabilitation programme.

Alaba has endured repeated setbacks involving his calf, while Rudiger missed as much as two months with muscular pain and knee problems. The Germany international travelled to London for specialist treatment before returning to action following a carefully managed programme that included injections and detailed physical work under the supervision of his personal team.

Rudiger’s fitness will still need to be managed closely, with the defender unlikely to be able to play a large number of matches without careful monitoring.

New arrival Dean Huijsen has also been affected by fitness problems. The defender missed 13 matches during his first season with Real Madrid because of physical issues.

The latest absences mean Huijsen has stayed in the Spanish capital because of minor discomfort, while Asencio is expected to be out for four to six weeks after suffering an injury to his rectus femoris muscle. His injury is set to rule him out of the entire pre-season training period.

Ibrahima Konate has not yet joined the squad because he was given time off after playing at the World Cup and is expected to return on Sunday. Rudiger only came back a few days ago and still needs to regain full match fitness, while Militao is not expected to return for several months.

As a result, Mourinho is likely to use the young pairing of Lamini Fati and Joan Martinez in central defence against Fiorentina. The two players formed the heart of Castilla’s defence last season as the reserve side competed for promotion.

The match offers both youngsters a significant opportunity to demonstrate their ability, but their likely involvement also underlines the scale of Real Madrid’s problem in the position.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Mourinho has told the club’s hierarchy that a new centre-back is required, despite the arrival of Konate. The Portuguese believes the position needed strengthening from the moment he arrived in Madrid, particularly because of continuing concerns about the fitness of the current defenders.

Real Madrid would need one player to leave before completing another signing. Raul Asencio is regarded as the leading candidate to depart during the summer, with the club hoping to create space in the squad and help fund the arrival of an elite centre-back.

His recent injury could affect the timing of a potential transfer, although it is not expected to significantly alter Real Madrid’s plans.

August is likely to be crucial, with the future of the club’s defence dependent on whether it can resolve an injury problem that has remained open for more than two years and restore stability to a repeatedly disrupted area of the team.