Real Madrid lose highly rated centre-back to ACL injury

16-year-old Real Madrid centre-back Joan Martinez has suffered an ACL injury which is expected to keep him sidelined for the majority of the 2024/25 season.

Having missed out on the signing of Leny Yoro to Manchester United, Madrid were prepared to put their faith in Martinez as cover for the senior team, where Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and Jesus Vallejo are the only available options while David Alaba continues to recover from his own ACL injury.

Martinez had caught the eye in pre-season but MARCA have now reported that the teenager's summer is over after an ACL injury in training on Friday.

The injury leaves Madrid with just three senior centre-backs, with Carlo Ancelotti now likely to call on midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni as emergency cover for the remainder of the season.

Martinez is the third highly rated Madrid prospect to suffer a serious injury this summer. Cesar Palacious ruptured his ACL just five minutes into his first pre-season start, before Dani Meso succumbed to the same fate shortly after.

Madrid are working to tie Martinez down to a new contract to reward his impact on the first team and raise his release clause.

Reports have named Manchester United and Chelsea as possible suitors for the teenager, but Madrid will continue talks with Martinez to ensure they do not lose the youngster for a disappointingly cheap fee.

Madrid will hope that Martinez's youth will see him return from his injury comparatively quickly. A timeline of six to seven months has been suggested and would see the centre-back return around March.

Alaba, 32, has been sidelined since December 2023 and has not yet started running, with his recovery a long way behind schedule.

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