Real Madrid injury update: Key defender closes in on much-awaited return, superstar forward reaches halfway point in recovery

Real Madrid injury update: Key defender closes in on much-awaited return, superstar forward reaches halfway point in recovery Real Madrid’s injury list remains a concern at the start of the season, but there is growing optimism at Valdebebas over the progress of two important Brazilian players. Eder Militao is moving closer to his return and has already started running on the training pitches and working with the ball.  Rodrygo, meanwhile, has reached a significant point in his own rehabilitation, with five months now completed since his serious knee injury. According to AS , the pair have made encouraging progress in recent weeks, as Militao is expected to be the first of the two to return, with the centre-back currently targeting a comeback after the next international break. Rodrygo’s wait will be considerably longer, but the Real Madrid forward has now reached the halfway stage of a recovery process expected to last at least 10 months. Rodrygo reaches major recovery milestone Notably, five months have passed since Rodrygo suffered the serious injury that brought his season to an abrupt halt. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rodrygo Goes 👐🏾⚡️🇧🇷 (@rodrygogoes) The Brazilian tore his anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus in his right knee on March 3 before undergoing surgery. Since then, his focus has been entirely on a demanding rehabilitation programme at Valdebebas. This week marks the halfway point of a process that Real Madrid expect to last at least 10 months and the club is pleased with how the forward’s recovery has progressed so far. Rodrygo’s programme remains centred on strengthening his injured knee while managing the impact placed on it.  His daily routine includes hydrotherapy, running on anti-gravity machines, plyometric work and weight training. It is a long and repetitive process, but the progress has made the difficult days easier to handle. “Now that the action is back after the holidays, they seem more upbeat,” sources at Valdebebas say. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eder Gabriel Militao (@edermilitao) Rodrygo’s injury update remains encouraging, although there is still a long road ahead since Real Madrid are looking towards January 2027 as a possible target for his return. Militao steps up recovery Militao’s recovery is at a more advanced stage. The Brazilian centre-back can now see a return to action on the horizon , and he has begun light running sessions on the Valdebebas training grounds. More importantly, he has also started basic work with the ball. For a player who has spent months away from normal football activity, those steps represent an important part of the final stretch. Militao has been able to complete light running work and reintroduce ball exercises into his programme as he builds towards full training, suggesting that his return could come shortly after the international break.