Courtois sidelined for several months

MADRID (News Wires) — Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will be sidelined for several months as he requires surgery after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during a training session, the La Liga club said.

The 31-year-old Belgian international left the practice field in tears and an MRI scan confirmed the ACL tear two days ahead of Real’s La Liga season debut at Athletic Bilbao.

“Following tests carried out on Thibaut Courtois, the player has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The player will undergo surgery in the coming days,” the club said in a statement.

The injury is a major blow for Real as they will have to make do without the services of one of their key players for the foreseeable future.

Despite the stressful situation, the club’s board and technical department remained calm and when the injury was confirmed, they set about looking for the Belgian’s replacement.

After brief deliberation, the favorite candidate is Yassine Bono. The Sevilla goalkeeper was very close to accepting an offer from Saudi Arabian football, but the operation has been halted in its tracks by the emergence of Real Madrid.

Bono (32) is seduced by the idea of wearing the white shirt and has made this known to Sevilla’s directors.

Courtois joined from Chelsea in 2018 after winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge.

He was named Player-of-the-Match following the 2022 Champions League final after producing one of the greatest goalkeeping performances in an European Cup finale.

Courtois recorded nine saves to deny Liverpool in Paris, leading his club to a record extending 14th European title after a 1-0 win.

Real Madrid have only one other goalkeeper in their first team squad, Ukraine’s Andriy Lunin.

The 24-year-old Lunin has made only nine Spanish league appearances for the club since signing from Zorya Luhansk in 2018. He spent his first two seasons in Spain on loan spells with Leganes, Valladolid and Oviedo.

The injury, which occurred during training, comes after an offseason that featured the exit of veteran striker Karim Benzema.

Newly signed midfielder Arda Guler also won’t be available for some time – reportedly several weeks – because of a knee problem that will also likely require surgery.

The 31-year-old Courtois has been a pillar of Madrid’s success since he arrived from Chelsea in 2018. His saves provided the perfect counterpoint to Benzema’s goals.

The Belgium international helped Madrid win the Champions League in 2022, Spanish league titles in 2020 and 2022, and last season’s Copa del Rey.

Previously, Courtois helped Chelsea win two Premier League titles and an FA Cup. Before his stint in London, he played for Madrid’s rival, Atletico Madrid, helping it win the Spanish league and Europa League.

Real Madrid opens the season on Saturday at Athletic Bilbao, when rarely used backup Andriy Lunin, a Ukrainian player, looks set to take Courtois’ place.

The club was expected to try to sign another goalkeeper, with Spanish media mentioning a list of possible replacements that included Sevilla’s Yassine Bono, Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga and former Manchester United player David de Gea.