Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti considering moving 26-year-old to different position after key player's injury - Reports
Real Madrid are reportedly contemplating moving centre-back Eder Militao to right-back following the injury to Dani Carvajal. The 32-year-old Spaniard ruptured the ACL in his right leg at the weekend.
Los Blancos beat Villarreal 2-0 in La Liga on Sunday (October 6), with Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior scoring either side of the break. However, victory was soured by the potential season-ending injury sustained by Carvajal.
As posted by the club (via Managing Madrid):
"After the tests carried out on our player Dani Carvajal by the Medical Services of Real Madrid, he has been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, a rupture of the lateral collateral ligament, and a rupture of the popliteal tendon in his right leg. He will undergo surgery in the coming days."
While no signing is expected immediately or in the January transfer window, Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti - as per Mario Cortagena and Guillermo Rai of The Athletic (via Madrid Xtra) has reported that the 26-year-old could be shifted to right-back.
As per Rai, Carvajal is expected to go under the knife this week, tweeting (as translated from Spanish):
"Regarding Carvajal: the club reports that he is expected to undergo surgery on Thursday or Friday. Those close to the player believe that Dr Manuel Leyes will be the one to operate on him, as is usual with many of Madrid's injured players."
Meanwhile, Cortagena has reported that Militao himself has sustained a knock and will be unavailable for 10 days.
Ancelotti's side are second in La Liga after nine games, three points behind arch-rivals Barcelona (24).
What's next for Real Madrid?
Real Madrid have made a decent start to the season. Since starting their campaign with the UEFA Super Cup - beating reigning UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta 2-0 in Warsaw - Carlo Ancelotti's side have lost once in 11 games across competitions.
That lone loss came on matchday two of the UEFA Champions League as Los Blancos slumped to a 2-0 reverse at LOSC Lille after opening their title defence with a 3-1 home win over VfB Stuttgart.
In La Liga, though, the holders are unbeaten in nine games, winning six. Following their aforementioned win over Villarreal, Los Blancos return to league action after the international break with a trip to Celta Vigo on October 19. They haven't lost in the league in more than a year, spanning 41 games, since losing 3-1 at Atletico Madrid in September last year.