Real Madrid dealt new injury blow as star defender withdraws from international duty

Real Madrid defender Eder Militao has picked up a thigh injury and will return to the club's training base.

The centre-back had been called up to the Brazil squad for their FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.

However, Militao is due back in Spain after scans confirmed he had sustained a thigh strain.

A statement from the Brazilian FA read: "[Militao had] pain in his right thigh after training on Wednesday at the Atletico Paranaense Training Center.

"On Thursday, the CBF medical department carried out a clinical examination and an MRI on the athlete, which detected a small muscle injury in the right thigh.

"The player was withdrawn from the two matches of the Brazilian national team in the qualifiers. The CBF expresses its solidarity with the player at this time and wishes him a speedy recovery."

Relevo report that while the full extent of Militao's injury has not been confirmed, he is expected to miss the next couple of weeks of action.

Madrid return from the international window on September 14 when they travel to San Sebastian to face Real Sociedad in La Liga. This is swiftly followed by the defence of their UEFA Champions League title three days later, hosting Stuttgart in the first game of the revamped league phase.

If Militao's recovery takes longer than feared, he is in danger of missing the city derby away at Atletico on September 29.

Carlo Ancelotti is already without centre-back David Alaba due to injury, while Ferland Mendy, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos have all been on the treatment table already this season.

Madrid are lacking extended cover in the centre of defence after former club captain Nacho Fernandez left this summer, while key target Leny Yoro joined Manchester United instead.

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