Real Madrid has been dealt a major blow with the news of Thibaut Courtois‘ ACL injury sustained during training.
The 31-year-old goalkeeper, who joined the club in 2018, has been instrumental in Real’s success, establishing himself as one of the world’s best goalkeepers and guiding the team to eight trophies during his tenure.
Courtois was visibly distraught as he left the training ground following the injury. Real Madrid confirmed that the Belgian shot-stopper will undergo surgery on his left knee in the coming days.
During Courtois’ previous absence due to injury, Andriy Lunin stepped in and featured in seven La Liga games last season.
However, it is likely that Real Madrid will seek a replacement with more experience, considering they currently do not have a third-choice goalkeeper in their first team.
Carlo Ancelotti, the Real Madrid manager, now faces the challenge of finding a suitable replacement before the team’s season opener against Athletic Bilbao this weekend. The abrupt nature of the injury has left the club scrambling for options.
Given Real Madrid’s financial constraints following their recent spending spree, which included Jude Bellingham’s transfer for €103 million, Ancelotti is expected to explore short-term replacements for Courtois.
Two players stand out as potential targets.
Real Madrid’s preference for familiar faces and individuals with a history at the club might lead them to consider Keylor Navas. The Costa Rican goalkeeper spent five successful years at the Bernabeu, winning 11 trophies and making over 100 appearances before moving to Paris Saint-Germain. Navas recently completed a loan spell with Nottingham Forest and could be available for a nominal fee.
Another enticing option could be David de Gea, who recently left Manchester United and is currently a free agent.
Real Madrid had shown interest in De Gea during his time at United, and a fax machine mishap prevented his transfer to the La Liga side in 2015.
The availability of both Navas and De Gea, coupled with their potential willingness to agree to favorable deals, makes them prime candidates to replace Courtois in the coming days.