Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has asked the club to sign another centre-back after discovering he has no fit first-team player in that position for the opening pre-season friendly against Fiorentina.
The defensive shortage has cast an early shadow over Mourinho’s new spell in charge, with the club once again dealing with a series of injuries that have affected the position for more than two years.
Centre-back became a major weakness during the 2024-25 season, when Real Madrid lost three key defenders in a short period.
Eder Militao was the first to suffer a serious setback, sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament tear and meniscus damage in November 2024. David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger then suffered injuries to the meniscus in their left knees towards the end of the season, with their problems occurring only days apart.
The loss of those players left Real Madrid with few established defensive options. Former manager Carlo Ancelotti was forced to use Aurelien Tchouameni at centre-back during different periods, while Raul Asencio was promoted from Castilla and the young Jacobo Ramon was also given opportunities.
The situation failed to improve significantly the following season, despite efforts to strengthen the club’s medical department. Real Madrid appointed Nico Mihic as its new medical supervisor at the start of January, only days before the departure of Xabi Alonso.
However, the injuries continued. Militao suffered a serious tear to his hamstring, requiring surgery, and remains in rehabilitation. Alaba has experienced a number of setbacks involving his calf, while Rudiger missed as much as two months because of muscular pain and knee problems.
Rudiger travelled to London for specialist treatment before completing a rehabilitation programme that included injections and carefully managed physical work under the supervision of his personal team. Although he has returned to action, his fitness will need to be managed closely and he cannot be expected to play a large number of matches.
New signing Dean Huijsen has also been affected by physical problems. He missed 13 matches during his first season with Real Madrid because of injury concerns and is currently unavailable because of discomfort, leaving him in the Spanish capital rather than joining the squad.
Asencio is also sidelined after suffering an injury to his rectus femoris muscle. He is expected to be out for four to six weeks, meaning he will miss the whole of the club’s pre-season preparations.
Ibrahima Konate has not yet joined the squad because he was given a period of rest after taking part in the World Cup. He is expected to return on Sunday. Rudiger, who only came back a few days ago, still needs time to rebuild his fitness, while Militao is continuing a lengthy recovery and is not expected to return for several months.
The circumstances are likely to leave Mourinho relying on the young pairing of Lamini Fati and Joan Martinez in central defence against Fiorentina. The duo also formed Castilla’s centre-back partnership last season during the team’s battle for promotion.
Their selection represents a significant opportunity to demonstrate their ability, but it also underlines the scale of Real Madrid’s problems in the position. Mourinho is understood to believe the squad needs a high-quality addition, even after the arrival of Konate.
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the Portuguese manager has asked the club’s board to sign another centre-back. Mourinho has reportedly considered the position in need of reinforcement since arriving in Madrid, particularly because of continuing doubts over the fitness of the defenders already at the club.
A new signing would require a departure, with Asencio emerging as the leading candidate to leave during the summer. Real Madrid want to sell him to create room in the squad and help finance the arrival of an elite defender. His latest injury could affect the timing of a possible transfer, but it is not expected to substantially alter the club’s plans.
August is expected to be decisive. Real Madrid must try to resolve a defensive problem that has remained open for more than two years and restore stability to a back line repeatedly disrupted by injuries.
