Real Madrid defender David Alaba ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament on his left knee in his team’s 4-1 win over Villarreal in the Spanish league on Sunday.
Madrid said after the match that Alaba will need to undergo surgery in the next few days. The club did not immediately say how long he is expected to be sidelined. Alaba’s distressing injury unfolded late in the first half, raising immediate concerns about the severity of the issue.
After undergoing tests, the club disclosed the unfortunate news in a post-match statement: “After the tests carried out on our player David Alaba, he has been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The player will undergo surgery in the coming days.”
This injury marks Alaba as the third Real Madrid player to succumb to an ACL injury this season, following Thibaut Courtois and fellow defender Eder Militao. Manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his dismay, stating, “It’s a shame, we are very sad because another player goes down. I have never had three ACL injuries in just a few months.”