La Liga giants Real Madrid have this week been hit with a fresh and altogether considerable blow on the personnel front.
This comes amid confirmation that Thibaut Courtois is facing up to an extended incoming spell on the sidelines.
Goalkeeper Courtois was for his part in from the off on Tuesday night, as Real Madrid locked horns with Manchester City in the Champions League.
With 45 minutes on the clock at The Etihad, however, the Belgian was suddenly hooked from proceedings.
Speaking to the media post-match, Álvaro Arbeloa was quick to play the situation down, confident that Courtois would be available for this weekend’s Madrid Derby.
As alluded to above, however, this will not prove to be the case…
As per a statement across Real Madrid’s website and social media platforms:
‘Following tests carried out today on our player Thibaut Courtois by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscular injury in the rectus femoris of his right quadriceps.’
An ensuing report on the part of Blancos insider Melchor Ruiz, meanwhile, points towards Courtois facing up to around six weeks on the treatment table at Valdebebas.
This would mean the veteran shot-stopper missing both legs of Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich.
Conor Laird – GSFN
